Time Marches On

Editors Note: You might be expecting a post about Brett Favre returning to the Vikings or something like that. But what else can really be said? So......

Every Saturday morning between 8:00 and 10:00 AM, I like to listen to a show on 89.3 The Current called "Teenage Kicks." Teenage Kicks is a show that features so-called "alternative" music from the late 1970's through the early 1990's. Basically the Clash through Nirvana. In the middle, there is lots of Jesus and Mary Chain, Echo and the Bunnymen, Replacements, Bauhaus, etc. This is the music that I grew up with. I also like the fact that they find a lot of "B-sides" and play little-known music from these bands. What freaks me out is when they play a song and announce the year it was released and how old that is. For instance, The Replacements "I Will Dare" was released in 1984. For some reason, I still associate The Replacements and a lot of music from that era as "new and cutting edge." But, folks, "I Will Dare" is..................26 years old.

This radio show, along with other life events, has got me on this "time-space continuum kick." This fall, my oldest son wil begin his Freshman year in High School. He's already my height and wears 11 1/2 shoes. My middle son will be in 5th grade and my "little daughter" just turned 8 and will start 2nd grade. On top of this, next weekend I will be attending my 25th High School reunion in Eau Claire, WI. How the hell did all of this happen? Now, don't get me wrong. I don't look at these things with a sense of foreboding or trepidation. I have had a blast at each of my HS reunions. In fact, at my 20th reunion gathering, Pedo and I sang a pretty mean Karaoke medley of Journey's "Faithfully" (which, by the way, contains one of the greatest scenes EVER in a video in which Steve Perry forlornly ponders shaving his moustache in front of the bathroom mirror) and "Don't Stop Believin'. (Editor's 2nd note: For some reason my wife, who was in attendance at my 20th reunion, has decided not to attend my 25th. Not sure why. I guess my date will be Jase. But I digress). Back to the time-space continuum.

High School, College, etc., just does not seem like that long ago. But it was. Music has always been a "barometer of time" for me to measure these types of things. When I listen to the music played on "Teenage Kicks," I am flooded with memories. I cannot believe that I was much closer to my son's current age when most of this music was released compared to my current age of 43. Time Marches On.

I have told my wife many times that I feel I made a good "young guy" and I feel I will make a great "old guy." I have to admit, however, that this "middle-age stuff" has me a bit perplexed from time to time. Don't get me wrong - I am very lucky to have a wonderful wife and fantastic kids and great friends. It's just that this time in life is supposed to be for "achieving" and having all of the answers. And sensibility. Middle age is the time for "eating right" and exercising an hour a day. Mortgages, car payments and 401K's. It's not that I cannot handle these things or do not accept the responsibility. I just feel that I make a better Court Jester than King. A guy can be a Court Jester when he is young and when he is old. This middle age stuff begs for a guy to be a King.

I guess that I am not really sure what point I am trying to get across other than music, above all else, brings me back to certain wonderful times in life. I suggest you check out "Teenage Kicks" on 89.3 The Current on Saturday mornings from 8-10. If you grew up in the same time I did, I bet you'll hear some music that will bring you back to your school days.

So, lastly, I will gladly attend my 25th High School reunion and maybe they will play our class theme song - Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me." (Kind of Cliche', I know) I just hope I can remember everyone's names....