When Retrospectives Turn On You

PBS has periodically run music retrospectives of early rock music from the 60s. For most curmudgeons, that is the last time music was good. So when they recently advertised a new one, I dutifully taped it.

I was expecting a series of vintage videos of the Kinks, the Zombies, the Drifters, Petula Clark and others who appeared on the Ed Sullivan show or Dick Clark, etc. What I was NOT expecting was those very same groups now on stage in their 70s.

I was horrified - not only were these 70-year olds rocking on stage, but the audience was composed of really old people too. Pudgy, bald oldsters rocking and weaving to the music. Frankly, it was quite revolting.

It was then that the appalling reality of it all hit me - the audience was essentially ME. I nearly passed out at the very horror of it. I had to turn it off - it was too painful to watch.

I can't look THAT old. I can't.

I won't.