If I examine my childhood for the most consequential year, it’s probably either 1981 or 1982 (the year I learned my parents were divorcing and the year they actually did, respectively).
But 1986 is a decent candidate too. That year began in Anniston/Oxford and ended in Madison. At the beginning of it, I was playing first trombone (as a sophomore!) in one of the best bands in the state. (Southeast, really.) At the end of it, I was the new kid—in 11th grade. Brutal.
And in the middle of it, I’d been thrown from the bed of a pickup that rolled over at about 60 mph. Landed on, and then slid down, Coleman Road in Anniston on my upper back, and it wasn’t pleasant. But, 10 more degrees counterclockwise, and I’d have died at 15. So thank you, God.
These are some of the reasons I was even more in touch than usual with the popular music from 1986. And earlier today, my old alt.culture.us.1980s friend Mort posted this greatest mashup I’ve ever seen. (The same folks have done other years too, but I think I was supposed to see this one first.) What a pleasure. Appreciate the tremendous work this took, and enjoy.
You might also like:
- Fun with Google Maps
You’ve played with Google Maps for an hour or longer straight before, right? The house in which I gr… - Tranquility
Earlier this year (but I’m only just now realizing it), Lea and I passed my parents in marriage leng… - Sometimes there are thunderstorms in “The Cloud”
Longtime readers may remember that this blog started and lived about its first nine months on blogge… - Band kid
Nathan is about to be a band kid. Next year he’ll begin playing trumpet in what was known as “A BAND… - Making cupcakes with Gran’ma
Mom used to tell of how Gran’ma laughed and laughed the first time I made cupcakes with her. I was t…