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A Gap Through the Generations, by Jim Bartlett

9/7/2021

 
October, 1964
Hands covering his ears, Charlie flings open his 16-year-old daughter Lucy’s door. She’s sprawled out on the floor, her head rocking back and forth, her swooning eyes glued to the transistor radio.

“What in blazes is that confounded racket?”

She turns and smiles. “It’s the Beatles, Daddy. Don’t they sound keen-o?”

“Keen-o? If you ask me, they sound like some poor animal caught in a trap...”
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November, 1991

Arriving home from work, Lucy steps into the living room, only to be driven back by a surge of sound roaring from the television. Mark, her 16-year-old son, stands atop the couch cushions, playing air guitar and slinging his long hair to the blasting beat.
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“What in the world is that?”

“MTV,” he shouts, head still swaying.

“Yeah, I know that. But what is that, uh, noise?”

“Nirvana. They’re so bitc...uh, awesome. And they’re playing here in Honolulu next month. Pink’s Garage. I so have to go, Mom. I just have to.”

“Pink’s what? Oh, Nevermind. Will they provide ear plugs?” She cringes as she says it, both her age and inner Mom showing. “We’ll see...”
July, 2022

“Hey, third and final call. Time for dinner.” Mark shakes his head. Cameron, his 15-year-old son, lays sprawled on his bed, eyes glued to his iPhone, head bobbing to his Air Buds, not having heard a word. He steps to the teen’s side and taps him on the shoulder. “What’cha listening to?”

Cameron pulls the right side Bud from his ear. “Huh?”

“What are you listening to?”

“Oh...Tonal Tonic.”

“And what exactly is Tonal Tonic?”

“They’re a Hip-Hop/Rap/Electronic fusion. They’re pretty rad.”

“Fusion?”

“Yeah, fusion, Dad. You do know there is other music out there besides The Doors and Led Zeppelin, right?”

“I probably do, but choose to ignore.” Smiling, he tousles Cameron’s hair, then gestures toward the door. “Come on...let’s fusion with Mom at the dinner table.”
April 2053

Like Ulysses’ sirens, the call of unfamiliar, yet mystical music drifting down the hall grabs ahold of Cameron, and he finds himself standing outside his daughter Heather’s room. He gives the door a light tap, then pops in. The 15-year-old sits on her bed gently swaying to a haunting melody about some horse with no name.
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“What is that?” he asks.

“Remember Great-Grams Lucy left me those boxes?”

“Yeah, I guess...”

“They were stuffed with these, uh, records. And a stereo and speakers and this...” She stops for a moment, as if off in thought, then jumps up, moving to her dresser. There she stares at a device, its arm laying on a black plastic pancake that spins atop. “Turntable. It’s a turntable.”

Cameron nods, then meanders across to the line of boxes. “Great-Grams' old vinyl collection! I wondered what happened to those. Looks like she’s passed the torch to you.”

“Yeah. I’ve been listening to them, one after the other.” She reaches into the closest box, smiling as she grabs the top album – “Meet the Beatles.” “She called this one, ‘keen-o’.”
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(Mine, from 1976, looks like this. Still works I think – ed)
Note for Beatle nerds in the UK: The story refers to the American album 'Meet the Beatles' as opposed to the earlier UK version 'With the Beatles'. 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' is only on the US album. Jim's got this right – editor.
Mary Wallace
9/7/2021 09:28:44 am

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Jim link
9/7/2021 02:58:07 pm

Thanks so much, Mary - so glad you enjoyed it!
Take care
Jim

Angela Carlton link
9/7/2021 02:11:59 pm

Jim, This was very clever and entertaining like a mini musical or a play!!!! <3

Jim link
9/7/2021 02:59:07 pm

Thanks, Angela! Very much appreciate the kind comments!!

Take care
Jim

Drew Lackovic
9/7/2021 02:55:48 pm

Keen-o, Jim.

Jim link
9/7/2021 03:38:56 pm

Smile!
Thanks much, Drew!
Take care
Jim

michael McCarthy
9/7/2021 05:17:53 pm

nostalgia. this is great Jim, what goes around come around! a lovely trip!

Jim link
9/7/2021 07:03:39 pm

Thanks, Michael! I almost named the story, "What Goes Around..."
Take care
Jim

Marjan Sierhuis
9/7/2021 05:18:21 pm

⚾️🏆You knocked it out of the park with this story. Wonderfully creative, Jim.

Jim link
9/7/2021 07:04:35 pm

You are too kind, Marjan. Thanks ever so much for the wonderful comment.
Take care
Jim

Pamela Kennedy
9/7/2021 06:43:50 pm

LOVED IT!!!

Jim link
9/7/2021 07:05:18 pm

So very glad you enjoyed it, Pamela! Thanks much!!
Take care
Jim

David
9/7/2021 09:41:09 pm

It's nice to see how much more open many young people are to the music of yesteryear than some of my generation were growing up in the 70's and 80's. Enjoyed the story, Jim.

Jim link
10/7/2021 01:08:18 am

Thanks David - and I think it works the other way as well. The older generation can be more open to newer music (though I'm as guilty as anyone on this one ;-)
Thanks again
Jim

Mike B
9/7/2021 10:39:26 pm

Loved the story Jim!!! Encouraging to know some of our younger generations can appreciate our classic music, but I guess every generation thinks their music is the best…

Jim link
10/7/2021 02:53:44 am

So glad you enjoyed it Mike! Because of the bus, I bump into "kids" here all the time wearing a '77 Led Zeppelin t-shirt or Dark Side of the Moon hoodie - so some of the music still hangs in there.
Thanks again for the kind words
Jim

Sue Clayton
10/7/2021 07:32:38 am

From an any kind of music tragic down the years from 1960 to 2021 this was brilliant Jim. Guess you're a music lover too.

Jim link
10/7/2021 03:24:02 pm

Thanks ever so much, Sue. What's not to like about music? ;-)
Take care
Jim

Carol Garrasi
10/7/2021 02:02:33 pm

Wonderful Jim. So creative and original. I really loved it. The Beatles - truly immortal. Thanks for this one.

Jim link
10/7/2021 03:25:33 pm

So glad you enjoyed it, Carol! And I really appreciate the comments!

Take care
Jim

Kathy
10/7/2021 02:46:01 pm

Hey Jude, I mean Jim,
I enjoyed the story. I’ve been through all of the scenarios except the 2053 one. I think I’m great gram! Thanks for the smiles.❤️

Jim link
10/7/2021 03:27:04 pm

I bet you are a great grams! (Especially if you've been through all of the scenarios!) Thanks a bunch for taking a moment to comment.

Take care
Jim

Fliss Zakaszewska
10/7/2021 07:12:25 pm

I usually just read the short stuff (it's what I write) but I'm glad I popped in to read this story, Jim. Love the way you started with 'history' and The Beatles, through the generations to the present time and beyond, circling neatly and touchingly back to The Beatles. My Dad, a wise man, only ever got one thing... 'prediction' wrong. He called The Beatles a '7-day wonder', bless.

Jim link
10/7/2021 08:53:27 pm

And I'm glad you popped in as well! I think there were many a parent back in that time that felt the same way your dad did (and probably were really hoping to be right!). Thanks so much for popping in and the kind words.
Take care
Jim

Mary Field
11/7/2021 09:53:34 pm

Love the story. I'm impressed! I'll need to follow you... Gosh Jim, so much talent!!!

Jim link
11/7/2021 11:03:59 pm

Wow - thanks so much, Mary. You are too kind. So glad you enjoyed the story.

Take care
Jim

Padmini Krishnan
17/7/2021 04:47:49 pm

A great tribute to Beatles. And what a realistic story of the changing taste in music across generations...so well done

Jim link
18/7/2021 05:24:02 am

Thanks so much, Padmini. There are so many changing things that form a deep chasm between the generations, and sometimes society in general, but music seems to always bridge the gap.
I really appreciate your comments
Take care
Jim

Doug
18/7/2021 04:14:08 am

Thanks for sharing such a. great story with us Jim and even though it may have gaps, it is still the universal language.

Jim link
18/7/2021 05:25:31 am

Very much appreciate the kind comments, Doug. Music is indeed the universal language.
Thanks again
Jim


Comments are closed.

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