Golden years

 If you were born between the mid 40s and the early 60s, you were born during (what I call) the Golden Years. Not the retirement Golden Years, but the best of times, and the worst of times. Yes there was still conflicts in the world, and yes there were pandemics like polio and HIV/AIDS, and racial riots with protests. But here in the USA, we moved forward faster than any country in the world. The rest of the world was still reeling from World War 2 in the 40s and 50s. Then in the 60s there was Vietnam.

I am not saying everything was great, but better. Assassassinations bannered the headlines with a President, his brother and a great civil rights leader, not to forget a great Hispanic leader who was not assassinated but met with resistance. You know their names and probably remember what you were doing when you heard about their demise. As bad as all that sounds, and was, we still progressed. Wages increased, but so did the cost of living. Families went from a one car family to two, three and sometimes four. Homes got bigger and more luxurious, improvement in our lives progressed because on technology discovered during the space race. The modern age arrived faster.

For me living in a divorced family, things were tough, but still good. A very strong willed single mother raised me and instilled positive ethics into my personality. That's what I called my greatest start into life. Of course I had my demons too, which I managed to control ... somewhat. I believe the military experience cured me of most of those through my love of music and responsibilities that were placed on me. But music REALLY got me through some really rough times. The music still brings back memories of those times.Sometimes, when no one is around, I still rock out.

I look at people like Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones band, and ask myself, "How is it they are still alive at 76 & 78?"  Rocking for 60 years?After all the stuff they have done? WOW!

I grew up with people like Big Daddy Roth and George Barris, the famous car builders, and idolized them for their skills and creativity. I didn't think I could ever do that and be anywhere close to their level, and still don't, because I am not, but I still try.

I finally realized what I wanted to do in life was to give back to those who matter, teaching and educating folks about our forgotten past, continue being creative with my hands. But not only with my hands but my mind too. I believe when I was hired by the fire department, and they allowed me to spread my wings, ideas came out like a flood. Not ALWAYS good, but a flood. I credit a few understanding people for that. Except for the firefighters who lost their lives, those were definitely the Golden Years for our department. 

Ok, maybe it was always the 'Golden Years'. They did have some good times and some not so good times. I believe we have to embrace them anyway and make the future times mostly good times by learning from the bad. Someone told me years ago, "Those who record the history, will write the future."  Hopefully we will learn from our past and make the future a better time. And that starts with you and everyone else. Take care. Support Ukraine with prayers.