That Briggs & Stratton reminds me of another great thing about the 70s – we used to make things that could be fixed and tinkered with, instead of thrown away. Back then we could not only take things apart, but find parts to remake them better than they were. Hardware stores were a wonderland. Radio Shack, baby! We used to build our dream sound systems ourselves, make our own tapes, remake our speakers. I also miss S&H Green Stamps. As a kid they were my ticket to buying my first tools.
Yes, I spent a good bit of time at Radio Shack too! And my mother and aunt worked at S&H Green Stamps at one point in ancient history. Love this connection between us! Think of you often with hope for goodness and health.
Awesome write !! Love the phone description. Accurate and complete. Totally different than what my kid and grandkids are experiencing. Is it any wonder many kids today can’t write, read or create. Imagination and creativity has been stunted when it’s all available in my hand to watch.
We're the same age, so I am on the same page. One thing you didn't really get into - the thing I remember the most, and you probably do, too – is the MUSIC!! As a baby music critic, it was the best; as a retired music critic, it is STILL the best. Maybe that's another post coming?
There is a ton of the early music influence in the book—especially growing up with a teenage aunt, a musician father, the Columbia Record club, KPFA and KSAN, NorCal live music scene, racial/ethnic diversity, the blues harmonica player Ralph Shine was my neighbor, Bill Graham's influence, Berkeley, Marin, Oakland, SF (all real, authentic scenes with Sac contributing too)—the wealth of growing up in NorCal as a young musician at that particular time in history is staggering (at least to me). We are very fortunate.
I love finding these in my email Charlie. Your description of the phone I carry around is so complete and so convicting. I too am glad I grew up in the 60s and 70s for the same reasons you are. Thanks for your gift of writing!
As a child of the 80’s, I read this with several enthusiastic “amens”. I grew up in a rural area outside of Nashville, and Charlie’s childhood, while preceding mine, closely mirrored my own. Creating, reusing, exploring, and imagining - all part of my daily routine. Forts, bike rides, and building things with spare parts, were what weekends were for!
Now, several decades later as I read this on my phone and faintly hear the sounds of my kids playing Fortnite, I think…how do I un-ring this bell? To use Charlie’s words - how do we allow space for our imagination to do its thing? Certainly something we need to collectively ponder.
That Briggs & Stratton reminds me of another great thing about the 70s – we used to make things that could be fixed and tinkered with, instead of thrown away. Back then we could not only take things apart, but find parts to remake them better than they were. Hardware stores were a wonderland. Radio Shack, baby! We used to build our dream sound systems ourselves, make our own tapes, remake our speakers. I also miss S&H Green Stamps. As a kid they were my ticket to buying my first tools.
Yes, I spent a good bit of time at Radio Shack too! And my mother and aunt worked at S&H Green Stamps at one point in ancient history. Love this connection between us! Think of you often with hope for goodness and health.
Awesome write !! Love the phone description. Accurate and complete. Totally different than what my kid and grandkids are experiencing. Is it any wonder many kids today can’t write, read or create. Imagination and creativity has been stunted when it’s all available in my hand to watch.
Yes, Tom, yes. Thank you for commenting, friend.
We're the same age, so I am on the same page. One thing you didn't really get into - the thing I remember the most, and you probably do, too – is the MUSIC!! As a baby music critic, it was the best; as a retired music critic, it is STILL the best. Maybe that's another post coming?
There is a ton of the early music influence in the book—especially growing up with a teenage aunt, a musician father, the Columbia Record club, KPFA and KSAN, NorCal live music scene, racial/ethnic diversity, the blues harmonica player Ralph Shine was my neighbor, Bill Graham's influence, Berkeley, Marin, Oakland, SF (all real, authentic scenes with Sac contributing too)—the wealth of growing up in NorCal as a young musician at that particular time in history is staggering (at least to me). We are very fortunate.
No other time like it. Truly.
I love finding these in my email Charlie. Your description of the phone I carry around is so complete and so convicting. I too am glad I grew up in the 60s and 70s for the same reasons you are. Thanks for your gift of writing!
Thank you Jeff!
This is so thought-provoking, thank you! I especially love the note you wrote to yourself. "Bring them forward--tweak as needed...."
Thank you Elisa! Much love and respect to you and yours from all of us!
As a child of the 80’s, I read this with several enthusiastic “amens”. I grew up in a rural area outside of Nashville, and Charlie’s childhood, while preceding mine, closely mirrored my own. Creating, reusing, exploring, and imagining - all part of my daily routine. Forts, bike rides, and building things with spare parts, were what weekends were for!
Now, several decades later as I read this on my phone and faintly hear the sounds of my kids playing Fortnite, I think…how do I un-ring this bell? To use Charlie’s words - how do we allow space for our imagination to do its thing? Certainly something we need to collectively ponder.
As always, thank you for the thoughtful words.
Matt, you're welcome. Thank you for the great comment!