Loving Vinyl Records

After 64 years, Cutler’s Record Shop in New Haven, CT is closing.  It follows many other little stores that sold vinyl, and CDs.  The internet and digital downloads have changed the way we search and purchase music.  It is easier, quicker, and in some cases, cheaper.   Since I am not an owner of an ipod, I can’t pass judgment on the masses that have moved towards this way of listening to music.  What I can say for myself and many others is…..we still love vinyl records.

In my teens and twenties, music was my vice.  I spent countless hours in small, local, record shops flipping through bins of albums in search of something new.  No genre was off limits.  Rock, jazz, folk, classical, country, instrumental, you name it, I took a look.  One store in particular knew that I was going to buy something when I walked through the door.  I was left alone because they knew I had eclectic tastes.  Gone are these stores where people stood shoulder to shoulder looking for a new release, or an old treasure.  It was a social experience as well as a retail one.

I bought vinyl records long after CDs came into the picture, believing that the little plastic disc would not last.  Why would we give up its larger predecessor?  The cover was a significant part of the package.  The drawings, paintings, or photos were an art form in itself.  The inner sleeve had the words to many songs printed large enough that you could follow or sing along.  The notes allowed the listener to learn the names of musicians and backup singers who supported the main artist.  The producers ,recording studios, and location of the were the album was created also added to the history.

I never thought that CDs lived up to their hype.  I have sensitive hearing and can’t hear the claimed improvement in sound quality.  Albums have that airy sound that makes you feel like you are in the room with the performers.  The bass, the treble, the instruments, the voices all sound different.  You sit through the side A and then side B.  Want to hear something over again?  Lift the needle and move it back to that little space between the tracks.  I did that too many times to count.

The saddest part of how we purchase music now is how much we DON’T hear.  When people walk around with everything piped into their ears, no one else is exposed to something that may not know.  Also individual tracks are being downloaded without the benefit of hearing the totality of what an artist put together for the project.  I know  there are plugin devices so that music can be heard in the open, but how many young people are hearing it this way?

Recently I was in a thrift shop selling albums for 50 cents.  A woman next to me had accumulated a huge stack for purchase.  We talked about how  much we appreciated the covers.  We also appreciated the scope of music that was more prominent in bygone years.  We grew up hearing Broadway tunes, big band music, classical, and jazz from our parents.  We grew up with modern music but can recognize West Side Story, The King and I, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Pavarotti, and many others.  Some new artists are now making a vinyl copy of their recordings available for sale.   It is interesting to see its return.  These performers might just be telling us to stop, take some time, and listen.  Hear the new, revisit the past, and enjoy the sound.

Being an Older Mom

The nurse’s office in the school that my daughters attend called last week.   My almost 8-year-old had a minor incident on the playground.  During the course of the conversation, I was asked if I was my daughter’s grandmother.  I stated I was her mother.  At first I thought that it was because I had a bit of a croaky voice that day.  Later on, I realized that they were probably looking at the records and saw my birthday.  It didn’t upset me.  It actually made me laugh because the truth is, I am an older mom.

Most of the children of women my age are either in college or have already moved into careers or family life.  I realize that I am anywhere from 10 to 25 years older that most of the mothers I meet.  I don’t hide my age, but I don’t offer it either.  It doesn’t bother me, but it seems to be alarming to some.   Some have stated that they consider it to be irresponsible. The advantages are that I am calmer and more financially stable than I was 20 years ago.  My years of teaching has aided in helping my children with school and other problems.  Academically I want them to do well, but I also want them to be emotionally happy.

I did everything late in life.  I established my career late, met my husband late, got married later than most (we were constantly asked if it was our first marriage), waited 3 years, and then had children.  I am not one of those women who waited because I wanted to do other things.  I didn’t think about my biological clock.  Due to good genetics, I conceived easily and didn’t need fertility treatments (another question I get asked often).  My drum always had a different beat.  Sometimes it even went haywire; sometimes it didn’t make a sound.   I just let life happen.

I know that I will not live long enough to experience most of my daughters’ lives.  My hope is to see them receive an education, and settle into a happy life.  I purposely had 2 children so that they would have each other.  The time I spend with them is precious.  I hope the experiences my husband and I create with them makes them look back and remember all we did together.  Maybe I will be lucky and live into my 90’s like both my grandmothers.  These are the thoughts I had on Mother’s Day when cards, gifts, and breakfast were presented to me by two little girls who only see me as Mom.

The Disturbing Theme of Reality Television

The expense of television shows has increased to the point of being too costly to produce.  This is hard to swallow since about one-third of air time is now consumed by commercials.  In order to fill the numerous hours of viewing, reality television has taken over.  Talk shows, court dramas, and game shows now fill most of daytime.  At night, we are given a menu of choices involving people engaged in a lifestyle that for some reason, American people find vastly interesting.  My dismay with many of these shows is that there is a common thread in many of them.  What is it? Fighting.

TLC (which is known as The Learning Channel), Discovery, and Bravo were stations that started out showing quality entertainment.  Now hours are spent with Housewives, Dance Moms (major concern, more to come), The Kardashians (who cares?), Bethany and Mob Wives to mention just a few.  Throw in the Jersey shore, pregnant teens, Gordon Ramsey, and yelling reaches a new decibel level.  All these shows highlight disagreements which usually erupt into shouting, name calling, and finger-pointing.  Sometimes the arguments end in shoving, hair pulling, and punches being thrown. I also have a concern that many involve women behaving badly.  What is the worse part of all of this? Our children are watching.

No, I don’t watch these shows and I don’t let my children see them either.  But many young people are watching adults handle their lives in a manner that is unbelievably immature and inappropriate.  Is there any wonder that we have a major problem with bullying in this country?  The people in these shows behave like 12 year olds in the way they talk and behave.  They exhibit a lack of self-control and everything is me, me, and me.  In the “reality” of life, this type of behavior is not acceptable. There are better ways of dealing with people who we may disagree. The sad part is that these shows are popular and enjoyed by millions.  Why do so many enjoy watching people shout and fight?  What is it in our society that we find this entertaining?

More and more shows are starting to include fighting in their episodes.  This season The Amazing Race and Survivor showed more scenes in which the contestants are arguing and name calling.  Some have come right out and exclaimed their hatred for others competing.  Television may have become more expensive to produce but we don’t have to watch shows that are done so cheaply they degrade our behavior towards each other.  Life doesn’t need to be that ridiculous.