Forever Young

One of the five best concerts I ever attended was Rod Stewart and Faces at the Hollywood Palladium back about 39 years ago, on August 27, 1972.

They were at the peak of their popularity with Maggie May and Stay With Me. The show opened with the Dixieland Jazz Band from Disneyland, 50 year-olds wearing their red and white striped sport coats and straw hats. My buddy Chris and I could never imagine becoming as old and corny as these guys, but they were talented, entertaining musicians, and the audience loved them.  After a standard intermission, a bagpiper in full Scottish regalia came out and marched from side to side across the stage playing that eerie sound from the weirdest looking instrument of all.

Finally, Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan and Kenney Jones took the stage, and it was magic. All of them were young and vibrant, and they all performed like the rock stars they were. While Rod Stewart never seemed to be able to carry a tune after he'd screamed out about three songs, the party atmosphere of their shows was contagious, filling the room with intense joy.

Who would have guessed back then that Ronnie Wood would still be rocking four decades later with the even more improbably ancient Rolling Stones? Rod Stewart has lived like a vampire, dating and sometimes marrying young women and sucking their young blood to revitalize his own youth, although I assume he'd object to that metaphor.

Sewart changed with the times, morphing into an act for disco, the 80s and beyond, never as good as the old stuff but impressive for his stamiina if nothing else.  He's done a lot of old standards in his American Songbook albums, which would allow him to age gracefully, but he can still rock. In fact, only Ronnie Lane wasn't around for a recent Faces reunion.

In a way, these rockers are representative of the Baby Boomers. We just don't seem to know how to grow up. 

At Huntington Beach the other day, I mentioned to Julie that when I was a teenager, it seemed like most of the people at the beach were young, but now there are lots of people with gray hair. No one told us we couldn't still have fun.

Are you still having fun?

A cruise is a terrific place to rediscover who you really are. 60 is the new 30...if not younger.

Becoming an empty nester means you can return to the activities you enjoyed when you were a young adult. Instead of being sad, embrace change. It's going to happen whether you're ready or not.

If you have the time and resources to travel the world, footloose and care free, why not do it?

Better service leads to better trips!