Day 23:
I'm a day behind on my entries because I skipped a day so this entry is actually for yesterday, Tuesday, the 15th. I'll try to get back on track here soon.
Today started good as I found an all day pier parking lot for only $10 right next to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum in Cleveland. Unfortunately the Great Lakes Science Center which stood next door was closed for renovations, or something like that. But the Hall of Fame was really amazing!
Between the section dedicate to Elvis and a movie theater section playing clips from the inductees over the years, there was a small section in the museum dedicated to the staunch and ever present opposition to rock music. These were politician, evangelists, police officers and other concerned citizens.
Now, of course there is the sex and drugs and anarchy (don't forget the satan worship if you play your records backwards) promoted and indulged in by some, perhaps most, but I would justify the genre by emphasizing one quality I think these musicians abound in: honesty, and honestly often times, if you search beyond the blatant graphic content and conduct of the more colorful bands you discover that a lot of these artists write and sing not so much of sex and drugs but of actual life struggles, love and comradery, persevering and overcoming hardship in very meaningful and creative ways.
I'm a sucker for lyrics and there are plenty of lines that come out of rock music that just soothe my soul. Admittedly, I'm partial to the oldies that border on soul, rhythm and blues and even country such as Johnny Cash, but more contemporary stuff has its highlights too. Dobie Grey, Cat Stevens, Hendrix, Speedwagon, and obviously Lennon, Zeppelin and Queen, and just so many others it's hard to recognize all of my favorites in a small post.
But there are a few gems that cause me to rest easy at night knowing that this planet has been graced with such elegance, soul, and just pure heart and real life experience. Bill Withers is one of my all time favorite artists and people in general. It just doesn't get any better than Lean on Me. And it just so turns out that he was inducted into the Hall in April of this year. Way to go Bill!
I'd do a little write up of his life but I really don't have the time to write much more than I already am considering the disadvantage I am at with my writing phone. I'm practically texting these posts. And my day isn't over yet.
After leaving the Hall of Fame museum I searched out the local skatepark. Of where I found a homie that beat me in skate(I let him) and who was terribly interested in my religion after learning that I was from Utah. To sum up, because I can barely keep my eyes open right now, I literally taught a first lesson to this 18 year old skater from Cleveland. Apostasy, restoration, authority, and everything right there in the skatepark! Everything short of extending a baptismal date that is. We talked for an hour or so, and I almost wanted to get a rematch so I could beat him but I thought I'd just let it go. If you can believe it, he got me on an Ollie late back shove... Not front shove... back shove. I don't know how many people can appreciate the extremely odd nature of that trick. I can tell you I've never attempted it before in my life. That is saying something.
Goodnight. dif tor heh smusma