9 Comments

Wow, that is some culture shock, Katharine, not knowing the Beatles or Elvis. Fame is so fleeting. What defines cultural literacy or illiteracy for one generation is very different for another generation or even for people from a different part of the world. 15 years ago, I could tell my students in Turkey where I was from by saying the same state as Michael Jordan. They instantly knew. I doubt that would be true today.

Expand full comment
author

Thanks, Jim. I hadn’t thought so much about it being an age thing but now I realize you have a great point. Sort of like expecting us to know about Myrna Loy.

Expand full comment

I just learned about the group, Journey, and their mega hit song, "Don't Stop Believin'" I'm 84 years old. How in hell did I not know about this group. Wasn't that long ago that I first learned about ABBA and The Seekers. Alternate universe?

Expand full comment
author

I just replied to you and talked about Candice Bergen mentioning Dan Quayle at the Emmy ceremony. But I misspelled her first name. So I came back and deleted it so that I could make the correction. My point was that infamy is also fleeting. Thank you for reading my ramblings.

Expand full comment
Sep 22Liked by Katharine Hill

Granddaughterwas singing "Don't Stop Believin'" in a group at their 5th grade school show.

😊

When passed along vinyl

records, granddaughter

loved Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

She went to SEE them in concert. (They are STILL doing concerts?)

Proudly wears Joan Jett sweatshirt from concert.

Who knew I was supposed to save all my concert t shirts for them. Didn't think anyone would ever want a "Boston"

t shirt.

🗽🇺🇲🇺🇦

Expand full comment
author

Thank you, NK. And I can’t believe that Ringo was just at the nearby casino with his All-Star band. I forgot to mention that at the nail salon this morning.

Expand full comment
Sep 23Liked by Katharine Hill

Amen!

Expand full comment

My 27-year-old son just moved back in with us to save money (theoretically so far) for a downpayment on a house. Daily conversation goes like this from one generation to the other: "I can't believe you don't know what (fill in the blank) is..." I guess you could call this cultural re-education for both sides. What he says "dope" he means excellent, awesome, wonderful, terrific. When I say "dope," I mean stupid, idiotic, foolish, or illegal drugs. We have a communication/translation problem.

Expand full comment
author

Aren’t you glad we have a handy translator on our smarter-than-we-are phones? Although I sometimes just let it all go by me . . . thanks again, Jim.

Expand full comment