For the first time since I can remember it was hot.  A scorching 4th, so hot and dry that there were fire warnings everywhere.  To begin with this particular year there was a bit of nostalgia thinking about the 4th.  For some reason this continuing heat wave, the dried brown grass, and the atmosphere have formed an ambiance.  An ambiance that made me feel like this is what summer truly is, an ambiance that continually transported my mind back in time to my favorite, and most admired period in American history, the golden era of the late 60s- early 70s. A time of conflict with the revolution of the peace movement struggling against the backdrop of simpler times.  Simpler times where holidays were celebrated to the fullest extent, now lace with emotions being pulled in so many directions.  The 4th meant something different, during that era, were the draft was still in place.  Families and friends never knew when their loved one would be next, and they cherished each moment.  Times have changed, we have ignored the simple moments, we have made them too complicated.  What I wanted for the holiday was a sense of simplicity, simple things to be enjoyed, time cherished not taken for granted.

The day started with a drive, windows down, sun roof open, the radio continuously scanned until those favorite classic rock songs were found. It felt like a real summer moment, the simplicity of music that has so much passion, bringing out an ambiance that perfectly harmonized with the atmosphere.  A feeling that I yearned for, overwhelmed me with happiness, and adrenaline.  I was thrilled and it was only the beginning of the day.  My girlfriend, Eva, and I decided that somehow, someway we were going to have grilled hamburgers.  So after mixing the meat with some onions and some spices, she fashioned a homemade grill.  It was so simple, so innocent, as we grilled our burgers on the hot open flame, on the third floor cement patio of my apartment complex.  The neighbors down below blasting Tupac, children fishing in the lake, people walking about the cement pathways. We sat outside eating the burgers, they were delicious, perhaps the best burger that I remember eating, even though I don’t really even like burgers.  We truly enjoyed each other, eating what we had made together, enjoying the heat, quenching our thirst with ice cold beers.

Upon nightfall, after the continuing flow of beer, we stepped out front and witnessed 5 fire works shows.  All shows were that of real people, setting off fireworks for the thrill and exciting entertainment for their families.  We were able to see and witness the subtle innocence of something so simple, yet meaningful.  The sky filled with smoke, ash, and bright colors, reflecting in the mellow waves of the lake.

It truly was the most perfect 4th of July I have experienced, it truly was a freeing and uplifting memory.


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It is common to become involved in a conversation pertaining to the ever evolving change of human kind.  However, the reality of humanity is that it doesn't and hasn't changed.  As a race, we as humans are always striving for more, since the beginning of civilization we have, and till time stops, we will always strive for MORE.  Since the formation of civilized societies, humans have wanted to grow, conquer more land, spread their empires to the furthest reaches.   Today that primitive urge is still sought after, trying to quench our insatiable wants to acquire more wealth, begin wars for natural resources, and epitomize the the selfish endeavors cursed upon the minds of homosapiens. 

Yet, throughout the course of our humanistic selfish existence, there is something that has changed...drastically, formidably... our very morality has shifted in this one, seemingly small, but realistically important  issue.  That is music... What we listen to defines us, as a person, as a culture, as a society, as a world...and our music has changed.

Music used to be a form of story-telling, a way to express something meaningful to be passed down for generations and generations.  Music was inspiring for good and bad, it brought people together, it gave people something to believe in, to share. In itself music has the utmost capability to define a culture, a generation, a society... Can and will music ever be able to draw us together again?  Will there every be a group that delivers a message so strong, something that makes us stand together, something that gives us something to believe in?

The majority of us, except for the naive ignorance of the younger generations, can remember the impact that the Beatles had on the world.  In a time of upheaval, the brought us a revolution, inspired a generation born into an onslaught of hostility and war.  They instilled the courage to creat change, to oppose what they knew was wrong. They brought together those that were hurting, scared and angry at a government putting its citizens in a path of destruction.  What they did changed the face of music, what they were capable of is immeasurable...

Will anything or anyone be able to accomplish this again?  It is sad to say that by the look of things the journey of music has completely gone astray... we can only hope that someone will have the talent and ambition to bring us back on path once again... We can hope.