Rona Musings- The 60s

“At the beginning of a decade when everything was beginning to seem possible, nothing seemed impossible.”

― Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures

I was honored to be chosen as ‘Guest Star’ on Rory’s “The Hello” blog post featuring my favorite 60s music today! What a decade for music! Of course, my music choices included Zeppelin, The Troggs, and Procol Harum. Follow the link above to take a listen.

Music brings back memories for me. My weird brain thinks in music.

The 1960s encompasses the majority of my childhood memories.

My formative years.

From living room dances safely ensconced in my father’s arms listening to him sing Nat King Cole’s “Mona Lisa”, to watching Apollo moon landings and the Vietnam war on the nightly news.

Less than one month shy of three years old, I remember where I was when JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Mom and I were in the car as we were crossing a bridge to go to the store. She pulled over and cried after hearing the news on the radio. I watched the television on mom’s lap throughout the funeral coverage. So many memories better saved for another time.

I saw the Beatles debut on the Ed Sullivan show on television. I didn’t like the screaming- wanted to hear the music.

Music was a fixture in our house growing up. Mom’s radio was always playing in the kitchen. Its songs welcome greetings when returning inside from playing barefoot on long summer days. When my sisters and I didn’t know or couldn’t understand the words to the songs, we made up our own.

Singing along as a six year old to “Hey there Georgy Girl” by The Seekers, a song that may or may not have described me, even at such a young age:

“Hey there Georgy girl
Swingin’ down the street so fancy free
Nobody you meet could ever see the loneliness there inside you
Hey there Georgy girl
Why do all the boys just pass you by?
Could it be you just don’t try or is it the clothes you wear?” – Tom Springfield, Jim Dale

The local radio station didn’t really play Woodstock-ish rock and roll. I had to go up to my room with a small transistor radio and turn the channel to a big Cleveland AM station and many times I was able to pull in CKLW from Windsor, Ontario. Yes, I was listening to forbidden, evil rock and roll in the late 60s. Before puberty.

“If someone thinks that peace and love are just a cliche that must have been left behind in the 60s, that’s a problem. Peace and love are eternal.”
― John Lennon

The 60s. My childhood that revolved around music. It was glorious, charmed, and I was blessed.

XO Lisa