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"A newbie contest - Better than American Idol" Am I really that old?

By
Title Insurance with Fidelity National Title

 

As I near the half century mark on this planet, reminders of my age surround me.  My arms are not quite long enough for some reading materials.  I can't get through 18 holes without a twinge or two in my lower back.   The President is my age.  Last weekend, however was extra brutal.  My 16 year old son's girlfriend added another nail in the coffin.  Before I can tell you that story, I need to take you back to 1977 (cue the harp and wavy lines).  It seems like only yesterday...

I have a very cool aunt.  Suzanne is eight years older than me, and she's always taken care of me.  In 1977, she lived in a townhouse in Ocean Beach in San Diego.   That summer, Suzanne asked me if I would like to house sit her place for a week.  She said I could bring a friend too.  I couldn't get the "YES" out fast enough.  It didn't matter that neither myself nor Mark had a car.  Everything was within walking distance.  We were going to live the beach bum bachelor life for an entire week! 

We had a great time, and didn't get into much trouble.  A few other friends came over, but we didn't break anything, or upset the neighbors.   One life changing event did occur.  It involved an older woman.  Easy now, it's not what you think.  Suzanne had quite an album collection.  I sampled most of her collection that week.  One particular album grabbed a hold of me, and actually, has never let go.  The album was Barbra Streisand Live Concert at the Forum.  I know, I know.  A sixteen year old boy digging a 1972 Barbra Streisand album recorded live in LA at a George McGovern Democratic Party fund-raising concert.   I was simply mesmerized by the purity of her voice.   The cover of that album is a drawing of Barbra with her long straight hair (still my favorite Streisand ‘do).  I'm only slightly embarrassed to say I can still sing the entire album, from People to Stoney End to My Man to On a Clear Day.  As you can imagine, I've taken a lot of crap over the years for my undying devotion to Babs.  In my defense, I love a wide range of music.  If only given one album on a deserted island, it would be Boston's 1976 self titled debut album.  I've see Garth Brooks and Mary Chapin Carpenter 3 times each.  In one 10 day span in 1996, I saw Aerosmith and Barry Manilow.  Like I said, I have a wide range of musical tastes.  A quick sidebar - In 1994, my wife and I made it to Barbra's January 1 comeback concert in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand.  Later that year, we caught two more shows at the Pond in Anaheim.  I am partial to the 60's to mid 70's Barbra, and I definitely hated the perm she sported in the Main Event.   To my dying day, I will contend that What's Up Doc is one of the funniest movies ever made.  Barbra is sexy, funny, and smart.  Really, find it and watch it.  You won't be disappointed.

So now I'm pretty sure you know how I feel about Barbra.  Fast forward to 2009.  Last weekend, my son and his girlfriend are engaged in a heated battle of Scene It against my wife and me.  The movies referenced in this game can date back to the 40's.  My wife is a movie-holic, and dominates on anything in black and white.  My son is also a movie trivia geek.  He killed me on a North by Northwest question!  As the conversation drifted from movies to music, I asked my son's girlfriend if she likes Barbra Streisand.  I'll never forget the look on her face.  She wanted to know the name, to be polite to me, but there wasn't even a flicker of recognition.  She simply shook her head ever so slightly, and said no.  My wife's eyebrows rose up as she watched for my reaction, and my son couldn't suppress his laughter.  Stunned, I proceeded to name a few movies and songs, but still, the answer was no.  Now, fortunately, I do know how to use the internet.  It took me all of 60 seconds to have Starting Here, Starting Now from that same album playing on my laptop.  She politely listened for a bit, then  joined my son as he went into the backyard to escape his old man's crazy antics.   I'm sure these types of moments are going to occur more and more frequently...  As long as I have my Babs, I'll be OK...Check out Starting Here, Starting Now below.

 

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Comments (14)

Paul Guenther - WFG Title
WFG NATIONAL TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY - Flagstaff, AZ
The Extra Mile Is Part Of My Regular Route!

Bill!

Wow that post blows mine out of the contest!!  Nice job!!

 

 

 

Jan 27, 2009 02:50 PM
Zane Coffin
Century-21 Homestar - Geneva, OH
(Geneva Ohio Real Estate Agent)

Bill that's funny I to have a 16 year old......it wasn't Streisand but I was playing the oldies station....and he told me they coped the song from (so&so)....I told him that song was older then his grampa...so I can relate to this story....you gotta love the kids...great story ....peace zane

Jan 28, 2009 04:06 AM
Bill Risser
Fidelity National Title - Saint Petersburg, FL
Fidelity National Title - Tampa District

Zane - I've has that happen too...  I always try to get my son to listen the the original, and maybe convert him to the "oldie"...

Jan 28, 2009 05:58 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Bill, this is a cute story. Half a century, huh? Well, those aches and pains and feeling dated will continue. I, too, think Barbra has an amazing voice. The other one I think of - more recently - would be Seline Dion. I saw that Barbra Streisand concert on television....and loved the Way We Were. She is fabulous. ;-)

Pepper

Jan 29, 2009 11:09 PM
Bridget Cella
Re/Max Connection - Sewell, NJ
e-Pro, Realtor
Your post was great and a definate prospect for winning the contest. I just wanted to let you know that I felt the flow wasn't "great". What I mean by that was once I got a few sentences into the body of the post - my mind wandered. I woudl suggest putting more line breaks and paragraphs in instead of having one big paragraph. I liked your use of pictures and the video is awesome! Maybe some bold words could break it up too! Congrats!
Jan 30, 2009 12:20 AM
Bill Risser
Fidelity National Title - Saint Petersburg, FL
Fidelity National Title - Tampa District

Teri - I've got a couple goof friends about 10 years older than me, and they sit back and laugh as I complain about getting older...  "Just wait" is there comment to me over and over...

Bridget - Thanks for the help.  I know exactly what you mean about flow...  I will work on that in future posts...

Jan 30, 2009 12:51 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Bill -  I'm not too far off from the half a century mark myself.  I was born in 62 but I was number eight of nine kids so I had a lot of older siblings who were really into the music from the 50's and 60's and that's what I grew up with.  As I became a teenager, I was into the 70's music and my favorite to this day is Cher.  I've seen her so many times since then and she is as good as ever.  Although I listen to contemporary stuff too, music from the 60's and 70's are my favorites. 

Feb 01, 2009 01:15 AM
Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Bill, I too am a fan of Barb. There will be sooooooo many moments like this one to come. It really tends to take you off guard!

Feb 01, 2009 06:24 AM
Gwenn Tanvas
NEXA Mortgage LLC an Equal Housing Lender NMLS # 1660690 - Appleton, WI
The Mortgage Gal, 920.267.7891~ SMART - INNOVATIVE

Bill - Wow you really do love her... Does your wife know? funny, funny - Enjoyed your post - I love your comments about nearing the century mark - Looks like a winner to me. Good Luck...

Feb 01, 2009 07:16 AM
Ella Glover
Lubbock Homes - Lubbock, TX

Congratulations, you found the Rain, and learned to dance in it!

Feb 01, 2009 12:45 PM
Bill Risser
Fidelity National Title - Saint Petersburg, FL
Fidelity National Title - Tampa District

Donne - I still hear songs on the 60's and 70's channels in Sirius and think about my mon and dad...

Gena - I've got my guard up now!!

Gwenn - Yeah, she knows...  And she sticks around!

Feb 08, 2009 11:46 AM
Randy Hooker
Dreamcatcher Realty / Greater Phoenix Area - Gilbert, AZ
Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek

Hey Bill...  I don't know if this will help you or not, but Babs is now in her 60's! And yes, most of her fans ARE old.  LOL   But I agree with you... she was and still is one of a kind!  Very nice post.

Randy Hooker - Dreamcatcher Realty - Arizona Real Estate

Feb 09, 2009 05:28 AM
Bill Risser
Fidelity National Title - Saint Petersburg, FL
Fidelity National Title - Tampa District

Randy - Have you been talking to my son?  He say's the exact same thing...

Feb 09, 2009 06:26 AM
Randy Hooker
Dreamcatcher Realty / Greater Phoenix Area - Gilbert, AZ
Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek

Not your son, Bill - just my two teenage daughters who pretty much laugh at me every day! At least we can bring a bit of humor to our kids.   :))

Randy Hooker - Dreamcatcher Realty - Arizona Real Estate

Feb 09, 2009 06:32 AM