I retired from teaching at an independent high school several years ago to free up time for writing and growing food. One of the things I miss most about it is the connection to all the wild creativity that comes from younger generations.
Several days ago, I attended the graduation of students I taught in 9th and 10th grade. In beautiful voices (and with some accompanying on guitar, harmonica and drum), the class sang Furr, a haunting song I had never heard before but immediately loved. I later learned that Blitzen Trapper, the band that performs this song, is from right here in Portland, Oregon. I guess I need to get out more.
Here is the official music video for Furr:
Hearing my former students sing this song brought back great memories of historical songs we sang together in our social studies classes. But it also cautioned me to temper my Baby Boomer arrogance. I’ll be fifty in another year and a half and tend to get nostalgic and sometimes a little too proud of the music my generation produced, as though nothing could ever be as good. It was good, but it wasn’t the end of good. We aging folks need to unplug from Dylan, the Dead, and Crosby, Stills and Nash now and then and get out to hear what new generations are singing about.
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