It was 40 years ago today,

Sgt Pepper taught the band to play. Don't know if you've noticed, but the 40 year anniversay of one of the most amazing albums of all time has been getting a lot of press lately. If you aren't of that age, you wouldn't understand. No way. But if you can remember "The Summer of Love", 1967, (the year I graduated), it is hard to believe it was 40 years ago. It must be true, 'cause my 4oth class reunion is this summer, and I am really looking forward to it. We had a great bunch of people, or maybe it was just a great time to "come of age". Along with the normal raging hormones of youth, there was a brash new music, a burgeoning war in Viet Nam, (along with the draft), long hair and pot, and a real "us vs. them" mentality. Nixon and the "America, Love It or Leave It" crowd, versus, "Peace and Love", and "America, Fix It or Fuck It". There was no middle ground. Sort of like Iraq today, only times 100. Is impossible to describe the feeling of the times, and it is said, somewhat truthfully, "if you claim to remember it, you weren't really there." It is kinda hazy, but I do remember a pervasive feeling. And I also remember thinking, "been there, done that", so we don't have to make those mistakes again. Unfortunately, Bush, and those of his ilk, learned nothing from the mistakes of a generation of idiots. I guess it's just part of the human condition, to have to relearn painful lessons like, "you can't win an unpopular war, halfway across the world, in a country of fanatics, surrounded by your enemies." They will ALWAYS fight harder, and wait you out. That's why it hurts so much, 40 years later, to realize some things never change. But looking back, on, what a "long, strange trip it's been", and to be able to enjoy my life today, in spite of the rocky road it took to get here, I realize I've been blessed with good luck, some amazing friends and a fantastic family. Just hard to believe it's been 40 years since I was introduced to Billy Shears. Oh, and by the way, that album, as well as several other 'relics' of 'My Generation', still holds up pretty well today....