Intense Aging (and tribute to David Lynch through Meditation)

Monday, January 20, 2025

I’m going to die in the 21st century. I ain’t exactly a genius for stating this, but by design, the 21st century is a mighty interesting moments of time. At this point, I’m similar to a surfer and riding the wave, and not knowing exactly where it will take me, but I’m comforted knowing that I will die in the 21st century. If I remain healthy, and this is only an estimate, I will probably pass on somewhere between 80 and 95, so let’s presume somewhere around the year 2045. I don’t smoke, but I’m sure there will be something in the environment that will shorten one’s life. I’m not fearful or depressed about this, but I'm more amused than anything else.

When you are young, the time ahead of you is endless, but as you get older, the time in front of you races to a period at the end of a sentence. That is the big difference between youth and senior age more than anything else. Youth brilliantly throws paint on the canvas, but the aged crafts the splash into detailed imagery. In all honesty, growing old is perhaps the most intense experience in my life. It’s not for Sissys or the amateur; it takes some talent to travel in its often dirty, murky waters. Youth is a sailor out for the night, but for the senior, it’s being the Captain of your ship of lollipops. You have to inventory your stock after such a journey.

The other good news is my taste in music is not heading toward Smooth Jazz or the later works of the Rolling Stones. I still feel excited by the sounds of the British band of the 1960s, The Creation. I recently bought two excellent compilations by this band, Making Time and Biff Bang Pow!, all from Retroactive Records. Besides the songs being excellent, Eddie Phillips's guitar sound is noise-tastic. The secret is that he used a violin bow on his electric guitar, giving that grinding noise sound. Jimmy Page took that technique to another level, but for me, the Phillips sound on guitar is all you need.

That Creation sound comes from youth, but it is also the fabric that never ages. It’s more vampiristic than anything. We have to go with change, but the past doesn’t become murky; it is still a battery that keeps things interesting. I don’t embrace dead things, but if they came from the past and still have meaning or a presence, then they have a purpose for the present.

My friend Lacy Soto also sent me this meme or announcement, and I want to share it with you because it can work as a tribute to a fellow artist and is also a very positive thing to do today, considering… The Lynch family requested that those who want to meditate in honor of David Lynch. I will do this because I think it will benefit my health. All together, it's Noon Pacific Coast time. If you are late, I’m sure that is OK as well.

Josephine Baker (Photo Credit: Keystone-France/ Getty Images and Mirrorpix/ Getty Images)