Friday, February 5, 2021

Passage of Time


It's surprising how you can look at something, have a reaction, and then look at the same thing later with a totally different reaction. That just happened to me when I re-watched The Beatles perform their last concert, a spur-of-the-moment one on a London rooftop in 1969.

The first time I saw the concert, fifty-two years ago, I admired the band's artistry. If we're being honest, I also envied how they were literally the most famous people on the planet at that time. There was no question about their premier status.

Now, I feel sorry for the Fab Four. Sad that two of them (John & George) died early deaths, one suffered a horribly bad romance (Paul), and the other (Ringo) simply slid into obscurity.

We can't freeze time and as it churns, our view changes. Prepare for this; it'll happen to you.


15 comments:

  1. Is Ringo really that obscure? I never thought he was.

    Again, apologies for the cut-off Zoom call on Tuesday! They've restricted my free account now (this is new) so that more than 2 people can only chat for 40 minutes maximum. Arg.

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    1. My point about Ringo can be misunderstood: as a former-Beatle, he'll never be truly obscure; I'm just saying he didn't do anything afterward of cultural significance. He just piddled around.

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  2. It's weird to look back on life. I wonder if Paul and Ringo look back and think about those days and what they thought their lives would be.

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    1. I'm sure they do. I read a lot about Paul's reflections.

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  3. This performance has long captivated me as well. I wonder, was there intentional symbolism in their performing it at a lofty height - as if to acknowledge, either on the nose or more subtly, that they truly were at the absolute height of the music industry throughout much of the 1960s.

    Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life

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    1. I'm sure that thought entered their heads. Surprisingly, the "concert" was unplanned and resulted from last-minute thinking.

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  4. I'd like to see this show again; it's been ages since I last watched and I barely remember any of it. Time is a funny thing, isn't it?

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  5. It IS really sad about what happened to the two that died. I think Paul has had a good life in many ways but sad that Linda died!
    Are you ok? I just wondered from your final comment if things re alright.x

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    1. Thanks for your concern, Kezzie. I'm fine -- as fine as someone my age can be. When you hit this point, you get very nostalgic about the past and concerned about the future.

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    2. I am glad you are ok but if it is any consolation (or not, because I don't want either of us worrying bout things), I hit my 40th birthday soon (see my post which publishes tomorrow) and I am anxious about alot of things and decisions that I have to make peace with and worry whether I will regret those decisions in 10 years time etc.

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    3. Oh, sweet Kezzie. I understand your anxiety but wish I could convince you to ease it. The things we worry about are not as big as they seem. In ten years you'll be happy.

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  6. It's so true- we view these things one way in the moment and then another years down the road. And the passage of time (and the slipping away of youth) is so sneaky-- but when you see it/realize it, it can be so unsettling!

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

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  7. I'm still surprised and coming to terms with actors/singers/etc being my age when I look them up. I feel like they're definitely older than me.

    Then again I had a "facebook memory" from 8 years ago that feels like yesterday.

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  8. Wise words! I feel like I've had this mindset since I was a child...I kind of always knew my perceptions would change as I got older.

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    1. Prescient of you. Anyone in your field (museums) has respect for the past and its effect upon us. Have you seen "The Dig" (Netflix, 2020)?

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