As this year passes and I get closer to that magic number of fifty years old, my recollections of the earliest years becomes much more pronounced and detailed. Usually for most the memories fade as we get older but I seem to be having rather vivid recollections of my first decade on this planet. After watching the documentary on The Sixties on Netflix, many more images came to me from those days and how privileged I was to have lived in the area I did, at the time I did. That entire area near Los Angeles was part of world history!
I was born in 1966, just after some of the most monumental events in this country had occurred. From JFK to the Civil Rights bill and then Vietnam's beginnings, the British Invasion,etc. These were a scant few years before but my beginnings were to be affected by them and the remaining four years of that most incredible decade. And, being in southern California, the Long Beach/Los Angeles area then, it was a hot bed of history making events. My earliest recollections of the actual events as they unfolded date to my second year. That amazing year of 1968 was one that I DO remember , though sure it is scattered and mainly from news programs then, a lot with Walter Cronkite and other anchors. And of course, my family life memories are there as we lived in Long Beach at that time, visiting Los Angeles (only a few miles away) often to see and do things. My brother came along that year and things in my household changed a wee bit. But the memories still flowed. My parents were not the type to be involved in protests or civil disobedience as my father was in college and then holding down a job with little time for those events. Mum was taking care of us as the world around us changed so much. The music scene in that area I was raised was amazing and I only wish I could have been an adult to appreciate it then as I do now. I would fit right in just perfectly! ******Flower power, Love ins, beach parties, etc.*******
Looking back at the times then and comparing them to now, it is clear things are a bit stagnant now. Not that we need social upheaval to make things interesting nor would I want to give up what I have now, not at all. But damn, where is that time machine!!?? As for the music now compared to then (classical and Celtic aside), there isn't even a remote similarity. :-(
There were certain memories I have from then still jumping out at me: Hollywood, Sunset Strip, the beaches, The Pike, oil rigs all over, Signal Hill, The Queen Mary in 1969, going to Tommy's in Los Angeles off Rampart for burgers and chili dogs! Movie stars went there all the time! This was a special place for me and I have gone back more than a few times in my visits to LA ever since then.
The Long Beach Tommy's was a mecca for my parents as their high school (Wilson) was a few blocks away. So they both have special meaning. Mum and dad always loved a good burger! Don't most of us? :-)
The Pike was a wonderland and amusement park in Long Beach that , to be honest, kicked ass!! Alas, it was torn down in 1979 but in it's heyday, especially 1965-72, it was amazing. The roller coaster, The Cyclone, went out over the water. I remember going here and having a blast!
And it would be a few more years of that till we left that mess in Asia and came home. That is a low point in American history and in my chats with many, many Vietnam vets over the years I have gained a lot of perspective regarding what happened there and in detail. It has made me reflect a lot.
The music scene in southern California was where it was at! Sure, the British Invasion was a huge moment in history but where did so many go after 1965? So Cal! It was a total West Coast scene and both LA and San Francisco were THE places to be in these years. I can be proud to say I was there in those days albeit a youngster. Unfortunately I didn't make it to San Francisco till last year and was only then able to appreciate Haight-Ashbury, The Castro, Berkeley and the legendary locations from that magnificent city! Need to go back to California soon!
When the 70's arrived, things changed a lot. Gas lines, tax increases, war still raging, gangs getting worse and life in LA was really changing , not for the better. My parents wanted a change from that and for us boys. So they sold everything and in 1974 packed up for Montana with very little, to start a new life in the country. Sure, we were sad to leave in many ways but a new adventure was beginning for us and one that would shape us, mould us into even better men. Montana was a literal breath of fresh air and would transform city kids into country boys through fishing,hunting, and other Montana based cultural events. More on those years another time.
but I would never forget those early years in California and what they meant to me. They mean a lot to me now as I reflect back and catch myself re-living the music and art from then. Especially the music! As I type this post, Jimi Hendrix plays in the background with many other delights to play after such as Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, The Doors,etc. Sure, many reading this will remember a different time but these are the memories of this Seumas. And I'll indulge in them!! Now I need a Hendrix T-shirt! :-)
Side note and update: Running is out for now as my right calf heals from a ligament/muscle problem, hopefully soon for the Rum Run and Vancouver Half are approaching quickly. Will add more on Facebook and Twitter as things get better.
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