It's weird when your childhood stars die--it's just a brutal reminder that they, and me, are getting older. And that hurts--a lot. In my mind's eye, I'm eternally that kid singing along with my Partridge Family albums and staring at my David Cassidy poster. Seems like yesterday I was hanging in the basement with my cousins, roller skating and debating who's cuter--David Cassidy or Bobby Sherman. My cousin, Mary, was gaga over Bobby--he didn't do much for me.
I still see myself as that kid. And it feels like yesterday--although my body tells me otherwise.
I sat in traffic, listening to Davy belting out "Daydream Believer" on the car radio and I felt bad. Really bad. It's hard to let go of your youth, you know? It's hard to hear that he was gone at 66--"old" to the kid in me, "young" to the adult that I am. See, I'm closer to 66 than I am to 8, unfortunately, and that is the difficult part of the news.
You had to see me trying to coax the memories of my younger co-workers when they stared at me with blank eyes at the news that Davy Jones had died. "You know, The Monkees?" "Daydream Believer??" "Hey, hey, we're the Monkees??" Sigh. "Oh, I know! Remember when he went to the dance with Marcia Brady???!" (cricket. cricket.)
Nope. Nothin'.
Nobody had a clue.
And it's that quick that our teeny-bopper crushes disappear and you suddenly feel very, very old. You'd swear I was talking about Lawrence Welk. Sheesh.
I guess I just need to mourn Davy Jones for a bit. And along with that, I'm gonna mourn those memories of skating on the concrete floor of my cousin's basement. I'm gonna mourn my old record player and my Patridge Family albums that are all scratchy. And my old metal roller skates with the lost skate key. I mourn the Donny Osmond of back-in-the-day and David Cassidy who rocked a velvet pant suit.
And I mourn little me. Young me. And the days and era I cannot recapture.
Goodbye, Davy. Thanks for the daydreams.
22 comments:
What? I did not know that he passed away. I will have to go google that. Oh yes, it's very hard when our childhood favorites pass away. It makes us feel a little bit older doesn't it? Remembering those care free days. Very sad.
Rest In Peace Davy Jones!
xo Catherine
That is all so true. It all does bring back many memories and that is fun. I am reading a book about someone who taught horseback riding, which is what I did all my life and it does bring back some wonderful memories. Take care.
First consider my age, (65) and my personality (you can make any assessment you want) but I never had a "crush" on any musical performer and very few movie/tv performers. All the people/groups/tv shows you mentioned -I have little or no knowledge of them. I've been sitting here trying to remember who people had crushes on when I was 12-13-14 y/o...can't think of any. I do admit that my senior year in high school there was some crazy girl who lived and died for Ringo Starr of the Beatles...and someone played a cruel prank on her by sending her a telegram at school, supposedly from Ringo - I remember her meltdown when she read it, I think she fainted from excitement, don't remember the aftermath when it was revealed as a joke...
So while my childhood/teen years was ALL about the music, it doesn't seem to have been about the people who made it...
Is that weird?
Meanwhile . . . It is reported that Captain Jack Sparrow is not mourning the loss of Davy Jones. Nobody was surprised to hear that.
A beautiful nostalgia piece, Lin. Well done.
Fame is fleeting, and "life is but a vapor."
While I know the people you referenced, it takes Chuck to come up with someone I don't know.
I am mourning with you and no one had to explain to me what a Monkee, Davy Jones, or Daydream Believer is. :-((
I have one word for what killed Davy.........Jessica
Being a good mom I went through my record collection hoping for a Partridge album for you, but the best I found was some Romper Room Activity Songs and the first album by the Beatles. Phyl
It's very uncomfortable to see people we remember so well from childhood start to die. It's scary and it makes us far too aware that we may have already crossed over the mid-point of our lives. Very sad.
The Monkee's were just a bit before my generation but I still remember seeing reruns of their tv show (and that Brady Bunch episode). Some fun tunes they had, and if I was a girl growing up in the 70's I'd totally have a crush on Davy.
I remember the Monkees. I too was sad to hear about Davy Jones. My reaction was that he wasn't that old, how did he die? Then when I found out, my reaction was, Gosh I'm old.
Time passes.
Just think of all that has occurred since you were that 8 year old kissing the poster on your wall....
All of our icons ARE dying and the ones of this generation will 'cause the same reaction when they are in their 50ies.
And yet, in our heads we will always be oh so much younger than we are.
That's my era..and my crushes too. I skated in my garage (with what little space there was) and watched a show called "Here Comes the Brides with Bobby Sherman and some other cute guys. I remember Davy and how he seemed to have an electric personality and was my favorite out of all the Monkees. He was young. I try not to let it frighten me as I realize that I'm not too far from their ages too.
It was a loss for me as well. Funny thing is that my son, who is 7, loves The Monkees! So when he saw this on TV, he was very upset to think that a cool singer, he just discovered, had already died!
Since most of the music he listens to is also my music, I had to explain that none of them are young anymore. He's still processing that.
When my Mommeh was a girl, she wanted to marry David Cassidy. Now, not so much.
I hear ya Lin, I remember all those people and I know what it's like talking about stuff like that at work and getting the dazed and confused look from the "kids" I work with.
I was the Shaun Cassidy generation so when I see him older now it's hard to believe that he's the same guy I went to see in concert when I was 9!
Catherine--I was surprised at how many people felt bad when they heard of his passing. It's funny how many of them felt exactly like I did.
Marg--I feel like my grandpa--reminiscing about my youth. Seems like yesterday in some ways, and a hundred years ago in another.
Grace--Well, I guess there are some girls who didn't do the teeny bopper thing, but I fell for it hook, line and sinker. I would KILL for a Tiger Beat magazine back in the day! I'm sorry you missed out on that--it was fun to giggle with your girlfriends over the latest shot of David Cassidy.
Chuck--Hahaha! Okay, Mr. Smartalecky.
Vanilla--It's from the Pirates of the Caribbean. That Chuck is silly today....as usual. :)
Diane--Thank you, Diane! It was funny how many people felt like we did upon hearing the news. Top writer for the Chicago Tribune wrote his article today--and it was eerily similar to mine. Radio hosts went on and on about how truly nice Davy Jones was in person. It's very sad to lose him.
Helene--Who is that? His wife??
Phyl--You couldn't find them because I HAVE THEM!!! Yep. I still have my Patridge Family albums. MIght have to get the turntable out one of these days....
Liz--Yeah, I think that is what is so sad...to see old age starting to claim us. :(
Silver--I did! Man, he was CUTE! He still is (or was)!
Anne--It broke my heart to hear that he died. I just remember him as being so young, so cute, and so fun. I'm really surprised at how many people feel like we do. I guess that says a lot about him.
Pricilla--I wonder if there will be news blips on the passing of Justin Bieber when he is in his 60's or whatever old age he hits. I think today's stars don't have the staying power like ours did.
Simone--I remember "Here come the Brides"! David Soul (Starsky and Hutch) was on there too. Dang, my cousin LOVED Bobby Sherman--me, not so much. I was a big David Cassidy gal. Gees, it's hard to see them age.
DJ--Isn't that funny that our kids like our music from long ago?? My son listens to Rush, which I just happen to know all the words to. It freaks him out. :P I guess I'm not so dorky after all.
Daisy--Yeah, he's kinda a sausage now, isn't he? I used to LOVE David Cassidy. And you know what? I still have my Patridge Family albums. Maybe Mommeh would want to come over and we can play them on the record player. :)
Ann--That drives me crazy about work. And that is why I'm so sad with my buddy Jim leaving--he got it. He knew what I was talking about. Now.....I'm talking "martian" to these people. Sigh.
Lin, that's why I'm called a silly old man. I thought you know. Excuse me . . . you did know. Didn't you?
Lin, I'm with you. I am a huge fan of the Monkeys and had a crush on Davy Jones. He was so darn cute and I loved his accent.
Hey...they were the first to record Music Videos!
Rest In Peace Davy.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1385726/The-Monkees-Davy-Jones-wife-half-age-happiest-hes-been.html
You know, I was never interested in popular music at any time in my life, but there is something about iconic stars dying that just hit us, like one big chunk of life as we know it is gone. Great post- very thoughtful.
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