Back when I was around seventeen (years of age not stones), I had a fairly wide circle of friends and a busy-ish social life. There were people at two athletics clubs, older people at a rowing club, the college rugby club and a mix of ages from a cycling club. I was in continuing education so there were fellow students.
We’d socialise in groups of a dozen or so. Mainly drinking really although we went to the cinema and live variety shows. We all mixed together as male and female although this was no big thing. Couples did pair up but then tended to drift out of the circle and do things on their own.
I was reminded of this life style when listening to some of my George Melly music. He figured large in our concert going. Louche in a black track suit singing old jazz tracks or stuff along the lines of ‘My canary’s got circles under it’s eyes’. My memory was drawn back to recent photographs of George and what a sad and declining figure he now presents.
I tried to visualise friends from the 50s as they might be today. I really tried. And totally failed. Not one single image presented itself. I could remember them as they were in their prime but taking hair away, adding a bit of weight, stooping them over was just a waste of time. I suppose it must be some kind of protection – age shall not weary them as……. sort of thing.
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