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"It don’t take no nerve to do somepin when there ain’t nothin’ else you can do."


There was an international triatholon around these parts some weeks ago, and there were these metal railings scattered everywhere around town. I quite liked the formation of these and took a snap. I don't know who won, but I suspect that they were tired.

I will admit that I find it depressing when I see the cool teens about town dressed very much in the style of 1986. To my mind, 1986 was a rather bleak period for fashion. Bad hair, too many colour clashes and ridiculous sun glasses. Why any young man would want to walk around looking like Brian Mannix is beyond my comprehension. I certainly would not like to deny the lad his right to do so, but I can't deny my inclination to shake my head at the Joseph and his techicolour vomit t-shirt.

But it isn't poor taste that depresses me. Poor taste is pervasive in any era. What depresses me is that for Master Mannix-II, 1986 would equate to 1969 in McCracken lifespan-adjusted years. Am I really that old? Do people my age bore people his age banging on about the eighties like people used to bore me banging on about the sixities in the eighties?

God that is depressing.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Good that is very intresting i see. informative but creative
KL said…
Eh!?? You sure you wrote that last para when you were in your senses!? Even after reading for 5 times, I didn't get it.
Kris McCracken said…
MH, all the cool robots love me...
Kris McCracken said…
KL, one too many "equates" there. I have amended it.

I mean that in the mind of a hip cool teen, the 1980s are as much a historical relic them them as the 1960s were to me.

This makes me sad.
Sue said…
My kids love all eras. They are forever at Savers (a very well stocked op shop) buying clothes for the parties they go to with themes of certain years. Or ratting through my wardrobe to get my old gear. And they LOVE the music from the 60s and 70s...as well as from now.
The past is a goldfield. The trick is to take from it all that is good.
No-one ever likes EVERYTHING! But it nearly always has some significance to someone, somewhere!
And you are probably bored by the stories of the past because the people telling you the stories are boring!!
KL said…
Now you are feeling sad!!! Wait till H & E grows up :-D, then you will understand the true generation gap :-D....:-D....

Age is in your mind. Sounds cliche, I know, but very true.
Kris McCracken said…
Sue, I'm all for the past (it's another country!) I just don't like the idea that I'm old enough to be part of the past!
Kris McCracken said…
KL, tell that to my knees!
Anonymous said…
I was a teenager in the 80s, and now I keep wanting to take my students to one side and tell them how legwarmers looked stupid then too. I'm more horrified and depressed about turning into my dad than I am about getting old! (and anyway I was born in 1969 so refuse to let you claim that 1969 means old!!).
Kris McCracken said…
Jackie, to have been able to vote in 1969 means old, not so much being born then!
KL said…
Well! even teenagers and people in their twenties have their knees affected because of whatever sports or anything they do. So, just think it in that way - you are a very active 20-something person and that's why knees are affected :-D
Kris McCracken said…
KL, don't you think that 31 is old?
KL said…
NOPEEEEEEEE. What's the difference between a 21, 31 and a 41? Nothing, except that 21 will be a bit poorer, 41 will have a bit more money and 31 is still struggling to save a bit money. My honest opinion.
Kris McCracken said…
KL, and probably right, too.

I never envisaged living past 25, so it's all open water in front of me!

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