"Great Artists Who Have Been Passed By"
I just heard from a friend
who devotes a lot of his efforts to helping young musical artists.
It's a good thing to do, and he's a good guy,
as opposed to me.
But, there was a hint of the old pitch:
"Time to move over and let the kids have it".
That's not for me, Bunky.
I ain't dead yet.
The term "senior" was sprinkled in there too.
I have trouble with the term "Senior",
which is often used by Junior Citizens
as a euphemism for "old".
I'm just "Chronologically Challenged".
A Geezer/American.
I look young,
but there's a geezer inside
trying to get out.
"Young" has never necessarily meant "better",
except when I was a teenager.
This is a commercial society,
and there are more young customers,
so they are catered to, and are more visible.
That doesn't mean they're better,
or more deserving than their elders.
What ever happened to "Paying your dues"?
They've never been able to put Misty and me in a pigeonhole,
and we won't fit into the "senior mentor" thing.
I wish I could work up more interest in it,
and be a nicer person.
Mark Twain never taught, or acted the mentor to young people.
He kept on creating his own stuff until he died.
My kinda guy.
I'm probably selfish,
but I can't get all excited about helping young artists,
because they have a whole lifetime to work on their careers.
And it's not that I have anything against them as a group,
other than Rap Music.
I dislike about as many young people as I do old people.
It depends upon each, as an individual.
Age doesn't enter into my evaluations of people,
but it often seems to be a part of their evaluation of me.
We DO have an interest in helping artists...
the great older ones who have been passed by.
We have to stick together.
Like tough old birds of a feather.
Copyright © Feb. 21, 2005, Jack Blanchard. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.
