It was indeed a good year for NY and a bad year for Baltimore

Despite the tumult of the 60s, including an ingrained distrust of the Federal Government (‘you can’t trust anyone over 30′) and the subversive elements of SDS, the Black Panthers, etc., it was a wonderful time. When else could a young boy experience his first rock concert, headlined by The Beatles, or see first hand the radical move from a 9′-6 Dewey Weber Performer to a 7′ Hansen mini-pin?

Yet, for all the anxiety of the day, the music was mostly uplifting and filled with joyous melodies, rich harmonic tapestries, and overlays of exceptional virtuoso performances. Today’s musical angst seems artificial and misplaced, in counterpoint with much amateurish musicianship.

Much of the 60s are not missed, but it was a vibrant time to be young, probably only equaled in the 20th century by the Roaring 20s. Certainly, most of our parents had it much harder, living through the depression years and going off to war as young adults. Given that, I’ll take the 60s.

Truer words have never been written.