30 Years, 5 Senses

I remember the smells of '69:
English Leather and British Sterling,
The occasional funny tobacco scent,
The frightening food odors from the cafeteria,
The scent of White Shoulders at the drive-in.

The smells now seem different:
Flexall 454 and Grecian Formula,
An irresistible pheromone cologne [purchased from the internet],
The stale odors of fat free foods,
The scent of Oil of Olay over a video.
[I'll bet the cafeteria odors are the same]

I remember the tastes of '69:
A ten cent McDonald's hamburger and the world's best fries,
Big Ed's pizza after the game,
Her lipstick, my grandma's biscuits
Those fresh yeast rolls in the cafeteria.
The illicit beer purchased by my friend's older sister [with a fake id]

The tastes now seem different:
That $2.29 burger and those dollar fries just ain't as good.
Something very big is missing from Big Ed's.
Her lipstick has sunscreen, aloe and mosquito repellant
friggin' fat free bagels and 1% milk.
The illicit beer purchased by my son's older friend [with a fake id].

I remember the sounds of '69:
Damn right, the best music ever.
Played while driving illegally on government roads
Words you could understand,
The Beatles, the Young Rascals, SOUL!
Meaningful messages that drove the parents berserk.
There were things called "Record Players."

The sounds now seem different:
Absolute swill performed poorly.
Listened to in traffic jams on the way to work
Lyrics unintelligible to modern man
Meaningful messages that drive my son's parents berserk.
Are the Bare Naked Ladies really a male band.
There's a record player exhibit at the Museum of Ancient History.

I remember the sights of '69:
Dear God, the women were beautiful.
Blankenship Field on a Friday Night.
Her face, before I kissed her,
Cars circling McDonalds,
The Haunted Church at midnight,
The windows on the cars at the Skyway Drive-In.

The sights seem different now:
Except for the women; they're still beautiful.
Give me Neyland Stadium on Saturday.
Her face mask, before I kiss her.
Cars circling Malls, looking for a parking place
The Juvenile Detention Center at midnight,
The incredulous look on my son's face when I tell him about drive-ins.

I remember the feel of 69:
Shared along Melton Lake drive,
The right time, the right place,
The right group to carry out the mission and accomplish.
The laissez-fair attitude among the people,
The presidential scandal.

The feel now seems different:
Shared more now by arrangement than spontaneity,
A strange time, a strange place,
A mission difficult to define, harder to accomplish.
Political correctness run amuk among amukers,
The presidential scandal.

Different times, same senses,
Different perceptions, different perspective.
Always good to see you again.

Steve Irving '69