A Memorable Senior Moment

An impertinent university freshman took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen standing next to him at a bus stop that it was impossible for older people to understand his generation.

"You grew up in a different world," the student said in a voice loud enough for the other passengers to hear, "actually, an almost primitive one."

The elderly man said nothing.

The student continued. "The young people of today grew up with televison, jet planes, space travel, man walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed processing and.."

The student paused to take a breath and the senior took advantage of the break in the young man's litany and said: "You're quite right, son. We didn't have those things when we were young...so we invented them."

"Now, you arrogant little twerp, what are YOU doing for the next generation?"

The applause was resounding.

I love this magazine for many reasons.They always seem to find the most fabulous quotes. My latest favorite:
"I took a city known for pornography and licked it to a large extent."
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani

You might want to gargle at some point Rudy.

Just posted an unreleased version of an oldie. Enjoy and share.

This morning I got up to go sing for a group of Alzheimer's patients. I've done this sort of thing before but not with this group. What a day. I wake up to find that the City Of Austin has neglected to inform me that my water would be shut-off all day. No shower. No coffee. Angry thirsty cat. OK, No big deal. I buy a gallon at the store and improvise. Still slightly stinky, I hoof it down to  the volunteer thing. As expected, it's group of about fifteen folks, eighty-plus in years with Alzheimers'.
We're singing "Red Sails In The Sunset", "Harvest Moon", "Down In The Valley"-stuff like that. At one point, Joe (who apparently doesn't communcate much at all) blurts out "water!" One of the volunteers gets him a glass. He brushes it aside and repeats his request: "Water!" Now I'm thinking he wants to hear a song with that word in it. So I start "Cool Water" by The Sons Of The Pioneers.

"Each day I face the barren waste
 Without a taste of water, cool water......"
 
I'm laughing inside because that's exactly how I started my day. Out of nowhere I hear someone harmonizing with me. It's Joe. Turns out he used to sing in a barbershop quartet. The old fella can't talk but damn he can still sing harmony.

"Cool.....clear.....water"

Hard to believe sometimes that none of my family has ever seen my flashy rock show. Time to break with tradition. My mom will be at this sunday's show at the Saxon. Woohoo!

On a daily basis I am followed around my classrooom by a small herd of preschoolers asking, "What are we doing next, Mr. Walter?" Usually with a lisp and dropping half the words. However, the message is quite clear and hopeful. Could someone make sure that gets on my headstone? I think it's perfect. Even better than "Keep Off The Grass".

The school where I work asked me to write some songs for a new kids' program. I recorded one at George Reiff's studio with help from George and Scrappy. We laughed a whole lot.  Give it a hearin'. I think it's actually pretty cool. 

I went and bought some polish for my new guitar today. Shined that thing. Played it live for the first time Sunday. It was like all the love from my Austin family was ringing out. Thank you all so much. I feel like Gary Cooper in Pride OF The Yankess.. I-I-I-i-i-i AM-AM-am-am- the LUCKIEST-est-est- MAN-MAN-man-man......

We got back last Monday. Wow. The best time. I love Japan. Great people, fantastic food, beautiful country. Good to be home. I missed you guys.