When my father reached his 80th birthday, he claimed the transition opened at least one exciting opportunity. Octogenarians, he said, could sit on the porch and shout “get off my lawn” to anyone passing near.
Certainly the growling curmudgeon, unyielding in his ways and convinced the ever changing world his toppled off its narrow and proper set of tracks is one of America”s many stereotype characters. And it”s easy to poke at the real world equivalents, the ones who spout “things were better” or “kids today” far too often.
It may be human nature to become stuck in time. On Sunday I learned a company planned to offer, for the first time, the entire WKRP in Cincinnati series on DVD. Afterward, I spent hours reminiscing about the show”s greatest moments (“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly”). For years I kept up with the latest trends in music, for example. At one point I annoyed parents by blasting the progenitors of punk—Iggy Pop and the great Sex Pistols—from a hot new component system, including turntable, cassette and radio options. At another point I frustrated a spouse by reciting the catchiest lines from Dr. Dre, Run DMC and Snoop Dogg.
Then I stopped.
For some reason, new releases lost their importance. Now, when someone mentions Bruno Mars or Lady Gaga, I can give them little in return but a sheepish “I”ve heard the name.”
In the case of that “Happy” guy, I can say, “unfortunately I”ve heard the name. Now someone make him go away.”
Yet treading cultural water hardly seems natural. Throughout history humans have adapted to new technology and new ideas with incredible ease. OK—perhaps not as readily to new ideas, given the Inquisition, Jim Crow laws, the persistence of words like “infidel” and so on. But with technology, we”re pretty much willing to toss old habits at first glance.
Within a decade after the introduction of the telephone and the automobile, we had ditched gossip over the neighboring fence and remodeled the horse barn to accommodate the latest gas-powered phaeton. Within just a few years, we transitioned easily from albums to cassettes, CDs and MP3s. When change sweeps in from over the horizon, we manage to adjust—and rather quickly.
So it”s truly baffling when a portion of the Lake County population digs in their heels when confronted with potential improvements. There are those who resent the county”s growing and rather impressive wine industry. Others voice opposition over a sales tax to help fund efforts to clean up Clear Lake, the region”s centerpiece. People also dismiss grand efforts at economic development. They perhaps fear the tourists, the boutiques, the dining and, yes, the traffic as well as the demand for housing that might follow. Yes, a few people on fixed incomes may rightly raise a row over increased costs. It would be reasonable to suspect, however, that many of the naysayers have just become downright surly, willing to rail against change in any form. Empty storefronts, struggling small businesses and quiet streets and the stench of a dying town are apparently more appealing to this set.
Of course, there are those who look at Lake County and see nothing but a land of the lost. I”ve heard on weekends featuring two art events, a winemaker”s dinner, a festival, a show, a fundraising walk, a fishing tournament, high school sports, an influx of visitors for a bike ride and more that, well, “nothing ever happens here.”
Not sure what to say, but that some people are simply unhappy (take that, Pharrell Williams). I guess that”s part of human nature, as well.
I”ll admit that I find certain events tiresome. Everyone has favorite pastimes unique to their personalities, after all—which is a nice way to rationalize my affection for munching Cheez-Its in front of a television on Saturdays full of European soccer and American college football. Yet it would be difficult to argue I was better or worse off by closing my mind to new music (except, of course, in the case of Williams, his silly hat and his insufferable hit).
Sitting back and watching progress begrudgingly is fine, certainly. Offering a voice in opposition to the possible negative effects of change, well that”s just democracy. Hunkering down against any effort to keep a culture moving forward, however, is just sad “get off my lawn” caricature.
Fortunately, my father was joking. He still welcomes everyone and every worthwhile idea—with the exception of Bluegrass.
And anything I once slapped on the turntable.
