My friend Kiki is doing the 30 day bikram yoga challenge. I'm trying to join her three times a week. The downtown studio is located right next to the University, so we're usually the oldest yoginis there, which means our instructors like to issue motivational phrases aimed solely at undergraduates. We sweat through commands like "Keep holding eagle, it's easier than studying!" and "Round forward, earn tonight's party!" This afternoon, Kiki sent me the best email:
Right before pilates started yesterday, someone put Rusted Root on the sound system and the sweet, slightly crazed strains of "Send Me On My Way" soon filled the space. I and this other woman who was probably in her 40s immediately began humming the completely incomprehensible lyrics ("pick me up with golden hands") while the youngsters around us flexed their smooth tattooed muscles and looked baffled. "Is this from the Lion King soundtrack?" one of them asked. And I felt both old and wise. I mean, remember this video? The bongos! The bare feet and crushed velvet pants! And is that a f***ing pan flute solo?
I love that Rusted Root song! Lion King stole their sound. F***king Disney!
ReplyDeleteThere is no way this video, or this song, could possibly happen today. (Also, can you imagine if Rusted Root joined the legions of idiots who decided that they need to Lady-Gaga-up their act? That video would bring about the apocalypse.)
ReplyDeleteI'd never seen the video before! I think it's kinda post-apocalyptic ... Mel Gibson should be Mad Maxing in the distant background (behind that stupid door) trailing dust on the horizon. I was working in a middle school computer lab, and the kids were hatin' on the "crusted root" music. I told them I liked it. They told me my lunches of leftover fish stank real bad. But one of the kids loaned me Alanis' Jagged Little Pill CD, which was awesome. Ah, the '90s ...
ReplyDeleteGO you 30-something yoginis!
OMG. I had never seen this video before. But I know the song. Oh, I know the song. Also, never having seen the video, why was it that when I was 19 and dancing to this song, I did a lot of that circling/bouncing/swinging of the hair? At a subconscious level, did I just KNOW that's what the song required? Are those motions embedded in the lyrics themselves? I'm totally ripping you off and posting this on Facebook too. Consider it an homage to you and Kiki. LOVE!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love that Kiki feels "both old and wise" INSTEAD of the much more common reaction to these sorts of encounters with the younger generation when we're reminded of the difference in our ages, which is to just feel old. I get so tired of exclamations of "OMG I feel so OLD!" as though it's a bad thing. Thank you for the reminder that it's not a bad thing (or at least not always). With age comes wisdom and experience that's a good thing. Now that I'm back in the academic environment, I am surrounded by the 90's babies who are shocked by the differences in our age: one kid recently said to me "You remember the 80's? I'm sorry." haha! No, my child, I am sorry for YOU. They have no idea.
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