My life wasn't quite as fast and hip as yours, because I was broke for most of it--but man, I saw some world for a girl from a boring town in Michigan. I'm old now too, diving back into nature, content, but gloating that we lived in the era of the absolute BEST music--and it's enough.
Wowsa, your cohort, not mine. In the 70s, I believed progressive education, and seeing and acknowledging the individual, were going to foment the change I wanted to see. And what I've learned is that we're going to work at change over and over and over, and maybe some of it sticks, yet every change simultaneously energizes determined forces of regression. Thank God we don't live forever. Thank God for idealists in new generations coming of age.
What you said, all of it, but especially "every change simultaneously energizes determined forces of regression." For the last 40+ years I've had a hard time believing that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice -- if it was bending at all, it seemed to be bending in the wrong direction. At the moment I'm going "Wow! Finally!" while fearing that after the election everyone will go home and forget about the wider world. Whereupon the cycle will start again, because Sauron never sleeps. Here's hoping the rising generations catch on sooner than most of us did.
I continue to wonder whether or not the arc of the universe bends towards justice. There remains an unspoken fear in our country. We seem to take one step forward towards racial equality and then regress. We have an idiot, conman who highjacked the Republican party and many of their talking points are similar to those of the KKK. It is difficult to find hope, but we must.
Enough of their talking points are also at least consistent with the Confederate States of America. It's sobering for sure, and inexplicable if you don't factor in white angst and support for white supremacy. But I'm not discounting the powerful economic interests that all along have been using white supremacy as a means to their end: letting nothing stand in the way of their lust for money money money. We USians are not good at thinking in economic terms. Talk about economic justice and you get branded a socialist far left commie anarchist. Western Europe tends to be better at this.
Ah! Yes, to your thoughts on mortality and limits.
Limitations seem frighteningly necessary since the Supreme Court, which has no term limits and no oversight, has gone rogue, changed the rules of the game, and has given the President immunity for all office related actions—whether legal or illegal.
As a back-to-the-lander, saving the world through living our principles was at the forefront of our daily life. We indulged, but so much less than our friends in the city.
It took me decades to understand its unlikely we'll ever arrive at utopia. Our efforts were not new. As a couple 60's Freedom Riders told young activist recently, change "is a long haul."
Oh, yeah, says I, as my grandson sleeps on my shoulder, and feel a contentment that I never had. Or never imagined, back then. I regret nothing. I’m happy we got here, Lucian.
I'm only a few years younger than you and I never had any money, but I remember thinking and believing that we were going to change the goddamned world. And I understand what your father meant about Muddy - had the great privilege of hearing him several times, and yes, he was a gentleman, as were Howlin' Wolf and James Cotton and Willie Dixon and Dexter Gordon and on and on. Miss those days and those times.
Thanks for the window into the past. I'm sorta old and saw some of this go by but didn't have the money or inclination to play. But I'm still on the road of making change in a fairly conventional way; it's a serious source of joy. We all make our way in the world in our own fashion. Here's to lives well lived!
Should I mention back in 1968 Tommy Smith and John Carlos stood on the medals podium at the Mexico City Olympic Games and gave the fist. My boyfriend and I jumped off the couch screaming and raising our fists too. Howard Cosell was an idiot.
He was a function of the early 60s. I don’t know that he had another way to respond. He was programmed, but it sure was cool when they still on that podium.
I don't think so. They were from San Jose State and influenced by the Black Panther Party. That started in 1966. I don't think they were programmed. We did it more to make a statement, and older people hated it.
Yes, you're right. Cosell was definitely a function of the early Sixties, if not the Fifties. He got marginally better, but still didn't improve that much.
When I think of Howard Cosell, I have my memories of listening to baseball on our 1951 car radio with my dad. Or sitting on his lap on the couch watching the Yankees ‘Play Ball’!
I was a very well-behaved girl who married a wild boy 45 years ago. Our kids are dears and we're so grateful it all came out so well.
Today, he brought me home after 4 days in the hospital to figure out why I apparently lost consciousness and tumbled down the stairs. I'm bruised and sore but apparently ok. And so grateful for every bit of this "wild and precious life." Your writing is so clear and passionate. Don't ever stop!
Strength. We made it out of the wilds of New York - our kids did too. One reminisced yesterday he missed NYC of the 1990s - a musician. I just started laughing.
Oh well, I grew up in the Bay Area and barely left (the obligatory few months in LA, eight months in Mendocino, and six months in Europe) and broke up with the boyfriend who insisted in moving to New York and lives in the Catskills now. Did all the drugs and music, lived serially for many years, then married my high school sweetheart and have been married for 44 years. I have no regrets. Oh, and the politics, being beaten, shot at and tear gassed more time I can count, not to mention bailing said serial boyfriends out of jail. But I appreciate reading your autobiography and comparing it to mine. Reading and music are the most important things to me.
“It took me another 50 years, but I finally made it. I’m old, and I’m still here, and that’s enough.” Amen, Lucian! As a friend said to another friend of that time, the jungles we grew up in were different, but the contours of our roads were similar.
I was a little like that too — but not so extreme — when I lived on West 11th Street btn. 5th and 6th from 1968-1973 age 23 to 27. Hard to believe, but I’ve turned out pretty ok. Maybe most of us survived all that freedom!
Aug 11·edited Aug 11Liked by Lucian K. Truscott IV
You had to bring it all back, didn't you? I could follow you every step of the way - and remember. No, no drugs, not all of your high flying life, but enough so that this made a strange kind of homesickness. Oh, so, much. Different circles, but a life I never would have had in any other city. Maybe it's why I miss New York so much. The only city I miss more? Paris. And now? Now I live in the bucolic countryside (static) with people who worship their land, tobacco farms that have been in the families for over 100 years. Who needs education? You can guess their politics. Listen to Jacques Brel, remember the Simon & Garfunkel concert in the park - all half million of us. And, like you, glad I was able to move on - Volunteer to work for candidates in the neighboring state, which is always in play, life is interesting - but it's not New York. I miss it everyday, every. single. day. But once you sell, unless by some nefarious miracle? You can't buy in.
Didn’t have time for the drugs, was too busy doing back to back gigs and getting the bands to fly me around the globe. The rest of it, well, best let sleeping dogs lie.
To be old and wise, one must first survive being young ang stupid.
So true!
My life wasn't quite as fast and hip as yours, because I was broke for most of it--but man, I saw some world for a girl from a boring town in Michigan. I'm old now too, diving back into nature, content, but gloating that we lived in the era of the absolute BEST music--and it's enough.
Oh, I tell my husband a couple of times a week that we are the luckiest people in the world and we had the BEST music.
Wowsa, your cohort, not mine. In the 70s, I believed progressive education, and seeing and acknowledging the individual, were going to foment the change I wanted to see. And what I've learned is that we're going to work at change over and over and over, and maybe some of it sticks, yet every change simultaneously energizes determined forces of regression. Thank God we don't live forever. Thank God for idealists in new generations coming of age.
What you said, all of it, but especially "every change simultaneously energizes determined forces of regression." For the last 40+ years I've had a hard time believing that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice -- if it was bending at all, it seemed to be bending in the wrong direction. At the moment I'm going "Wow! Finally!" while fearing that after the election everyone will go home and forget about the wider world. Whereupon the cycle will start again, because Sauron never sleeps. Here's hoping the rising generations catch on sooner than most of us did.
I continue to wonder whether or not the arc of the universe bends towards justice. There remains an unspoken fear in our country. We seem to take one step forward towards racial equality and then regress. We have an idiot, conman who highjacked the Republican party and many of their talking points are similar to those of the KKK. It is difficult to find hope, but we must.
Enough of their talking points are also at least consistent with the Confederate States of America. It's sobering for sure, and inexplicable if you don't factor in white angst and support for white supremacy. But I'm not discounting the powerful economic interests that all along have been using white supremacy as a means to their end: letting nothing stand in the way of their lust for money money money. We USians are not good at thinking in economic terms. Talk about economic justice and you get branded a socialist far left commie anarchist. Western Europe tends to be better at this.
Ah! Yes, to your thoughts on mortality and limits.
Limitations seem frighteningly necessary since the Supreme Court, which has no term limits and no oversight, has gone rogue, changed the rules of the game, and has given the President immunity for all office related actions—whether legal or illegal.
What are we going to do now, Leroy?
We're gonna win the house and the senate and make some new laws!
As a back-to-the-lander, saving the world through living our principles was at the forefront of our daily life. We indulged, but so much less than our friends in the city.
It took me decades to understand its unlikely we'll ever arrive at utopia. Our efforts were not new. As a couple 60's Freedom Riders told young activist recently, change "is a long haul."
https://apnews.com/article/civil-rights-freedom-riders-atlanta-vote-ab5f4118091af556802f558a75830504
Oh, yeah, says I, as my grandson sleeps on my shoulder, and feel a contentment that I never had. Or never imagined, back then. I regret nothing. I’m happy we got here, Lucian.
I'm only a few years younger than you and I never had any money, but I remember thinking and believing that we were going to change the goddamned world. And I understand what your father meant about Muddy - had the great privilege of hearing him several times, and yes, he was a gentleman, as were Howlin' Wolf and James Cotton and Willie Dixon and Dexter Gordon and on and on. Miss those days and those times.
Thanks for the window into the past. I'm sorta old and saw some of this go by but didn't have the money or inclination to play. But I'm still on the road of making change in a fairly conventional way; it's a serious source of joy. We all make our way in the world in our own fashion. Here's to lives well lived!
Should I mention back in 1968 Tommy Smith and John Carlos stood on the medals podium at the Mexico City Olympic Games and gave the fist. My boyfriend and I jumped off the couch screaming and raising our fists too. Howard Cosell was an idiot.
Totally :D
He was a function of the early 60s. I don’t know that he had another way to respond. He was programmed, but it sure was cool when they still on that podium.
I don't think so. They were from San Jose State and influenced by the Black Panther Party. That started in 1966. I don't think they were programmed. We did it more to make a statement, and older people hated it.
Oh i meant howard. The podium fists were the real deal
Yes, you're right. Cosell was definitely a function of the early Sixties, if not the Fifties. He got marginally better, but still didn't improve that much.
When I think of Howard Cosell, I have my memories of listening to baseball on our 1951 car radio with my dad. Or sitting on his lap on the couch watching the Yankees ‘Play Ball’!
I was 11 and Tommy and John made me braver for life.
Oh to be young and foolish again. But when you're old and you look back you smile and realize it was all vanity, it was all illusion :)
But it was fun.
:) True :}
I was a very well-behaved girl who married a wild boy 45 years ago. Our kids are dears and we're so grateful it all came out so well.
Today, he brought me home after 4 days in the hospital to figure out why I apparently lost consciousness and tumbled down the stairs. I'm bruised and sore but apparently ok. And so grateful for every bit of this "wild and precious life." Your writing is so clear and passionate. Don't ever stop!
Get better. Don't worry about me stopping. I'm having too much fun.
🙏
Strength. We made it out of the wilds of New York - our kids did too. One reminisced yesterday he missed NYC of the 1990s - a musician. I just started laughing.
It was lovely to be young and beautiful. But it was exhausting as hell.
Listened to grandchildren explain what “Brat Summer” means but relieved I don’t have to worry about it.
Very relaxing.
Oh well, I grew up in the Bay Area and barely left (the obligatory few months in LA, eight months in Mendocino, and six months in Europe) and broke up with the boyfriend who insisted in moving to New York and lives in the Catskills now. Did all the drugs and music, lived serially for many years, then married my high school sweetheart and have been married for 44 years. I have no regrets. Oh, and the politics, being beaten, shot at and tear gassed more time I can count, not to mention bailing said serial boyfriends out of jail. But I appreciate reading your autobiography and comparing it to mine. Reading and music are the most important things to me.
"THE COMPANY YOU KEEP "
But have you read Peregrine by J.A. Baker
No. I read historical novels and people like Michael Klare.
Ok. I noted your profile mentioned Bird Warching.
It’s great to be at the center of the universe. The problem is you can’t go back again.
No it’s a relief
Not so much if you were living a legend. Jerry was. —aka annie f
But as another commenter said, "yeah, but it was fun."
It sure was!
“It took me another 50 years, but I finally made it. I’m old, and I’m still here, and that’s enough.” Amen, Lucian! As a friend said to another friend of that time, the jungles we grew up in were different, but the contours of our roads were similar.
The jungle became a path as I swung the machete.
I was a little like that too — but not so extreme — when I lived on West 11th Street btn. 5th and 6th from 1968-1973 age 23 to 27. Hard to believe, but I’ve turned out pretty ok. Maybe most of us survived all that freedom!
You had to bring it all back, didn't you? I could follow you every step of the way - and remember. No, no drugs, not all of your high flying life, but enough so that this made a strange kind of homesickness. Oh, so, much. Different circles, but a life I never would have had in any other city. Maybe it's why I miss New York so much. The only city I miss more? Paris. And now? Now I live in the bucolic countryside (static) with people who worship their land, tobacco farms that have been in the families for over 100 years. Who needs education? You can guess their politics. Listen to Jacques Brel, remember the Simon & Garfunkel concert in the park - all half million of us. And, like you, glad I was able to move on - Volunteer to work for candidates in the neighboring state, which is always in play, life is interesting - but it's not New York. I miss it everyday, every. single. day. But once you sell, unless by some nefarious miracle? You can't buy in.
PS. Love the cat. Ginger cats are the best.
Didn’t have time for the drugs, was too busy doing back to back gigs and getting the bands to fly me around the globe. The rest of it, well, best let sleeping dogs lie.