(no subject)
This is not an anniversary that most of you would likely have marked (nor, likely, even care about), but it means a lot to me. Ten years ago today, John Denver was killed when the experimental aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Monterey Bay. My world has been a little darker ever since.
I grew up listening to John Denver (my dad used to watch him perform at a little club in L.A. back in the 60's before anyone had ever heard of him). By high school, he was my favorite singer, and proudly admitting that I was a John Denver fan when everyone else was listening to "Big 80's" music was a large part of how I asserted my individuality and learned not to worry too much about what other people thought of me. And he helped me not take things too seriously, because, really, how seriously can you take yourself when you're a John Denver fan? His music and his philosophies shaped my view of the world. Since I was 15 the environment has been my cause of choice, and shapes all my views of politics and society. I got to see him perform live half a dozen times, the last being a Christmas concert in Valley Forge, PA the year before he died. When I was introduced to the web in 1995, the first thing I did was make a John Denver page. While I haven't maintained it in years, it is (to the best of my knowledge) the second-oldest JD site online (this being the first). Of course, I have all 30 of his albums, and another 15 or 20 more CDs of his music besides those.
I recently had the opportunity to make a mini-John Denver pilgrimage. In 1976, Denver founded The Windstar Foundation, a vehicle for environmental and social activism dedicated to creating a sustainable future. In September, I was traveling through Colorado with some friends from UCSC, and we just happened to be passing through Aspen and Snowmass. Since I was driving, I took us on a half-hour detour on a little country road to visit the Windstar Land Conservancy. I'd seen pictures in their newsletter, and have heard about symposiums held there, but this was the first time I'd ever gotten a chance to visit. It was... a neat experience.
On Sunday, in Pacific Grove (about an hour south of here), a local group is holding the 10th Annual John Denver Memorial Beach Cleanup and Tribute. I would really like to go, but am swamped with work, and also have other social offers from friends I don't get to see nearly enough of.
John Denver and his music have had a profound effect on me, and on the world we live in (whether you're aware of it or not). I have missed his presence in this world these last 10 years.
I grew up listening to John Denver (my dad used to watch him perform at a little club in L.A. back in the 60's before anyone had ever heard of him). By high school, he was my favorite singer, and proudly admitting that I was a John Denver fan when everyone else was listening to "Big 80's" music was a large part of how I asserted my individuality and learned not to worry too much about what other people thought of me. And he helped me not take things too seriously, because, really, how seriously can you take yourself when you're a John Denver fan? His music and his philosophies shaped my view of the world. Since I was 15 the environment has been my cause of choice, and shapes all my views of politics and society. I got to see him perform live half a dozen times, the last being a Christmas concert in Valley Forge, PA the year before he died. When I was introduced to the web in 1995, the first thing I did was make a John Denver page. While I haven't maintained it in years, it is (to the best of my knowledge) the second-oldest JD site online (this being the first). Of course, I have all 30 of his albums, and another 15 or 20 more CDs of his music besides those.
I recently had the opportunity to make a mini-John Denver pilgrimage. In 1976, Denver founded The Windstar Foundation, a vehicle for environmental and social activism dedicated to creating a sustainable future. In September, I was traveling through Colorado with some friends from UCSC, and we just happened to be passing through Aspen and Snowmass. Since I was driving, I took us on a half-hour detour on a little country road to visit the Windstar Land Conservancy. I'd seen pictures in their newsletter, and have heard about symposiums held there, but this was the first time I'd ever gotten a chance to visit. It was... a neat experience.
On Sunday, in Pacific Grove (about an hour south of here), a local group is holding the 10th Annual John Denver Memorial Beach Cleanup and Tribute. I would really like to go, but am swamped with work, and also have other social offers from friends I don't get to see nearly enough of.
John Denver and his music have had a profound effect on me, and on the world we live in (whether you're aware of it or not). I have missed his presence in this world these last 10 years.