Class of ‘64 — Not Dead Yet <3
A tribute to the first 60 years
I spent the last six months preparing to say ‘60’ and the morning listening to comedian Ritch Shydner. He does a bit on why he is not interested in younger women. He doesn’t want to have to explain anything…
“I wouldn’t date any younger woman because I’m lazy. I don’t want to explain the Kennedy assassination, the Godfather movies, Marvin Gaye… I’d meet some old woman and say, ‘Look, ‘I’m sure you had some sort of parents, some sort of education, big dreams in your 30s and 40s, they were crushed to death in your 50s — that’s why you’re talking to me in your 60s. So let’s just hold hands and keep moving until one of us drops into an open grave.”
Lololololololol. He’s so romantic.
“So let’s just hold hands and keep moving until one of us drops into an open grave.”—Ritch Shydner
He also has a joke where he went on a blind date, and while his date was getting ready, he rifled through her album collection. He found show tunes and Barry Manilow. He said, “It was like finding body parts in the refrigerator.” He knew it wasn’t gonna work out.
I woke up this morning on the First of May knowing that fate just keeps on happening.
I turn 60 at the end of the month, and I live in a town where the power brokers consider 30 retirement age.
But I’m here, and I’m just getting started.
I have the experience of a veteran and curiosity of a teenager, it’s an awesome combination when it comes to fighting fascism. I’m not scared of these fuckers.
I type on my pink retro keyboard connected to an iPad adorned by a sticker that reads: This Machine Kills Fascists.
Indeed.
I am exactly where I need to be — free to speak truth to power in a time of grave deception.
I turn 60 this month, and I’m not dead yet.
I’m in good company — also born in ‘64 are Nicholas Cage, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Obama, Keanu Reeves, Duff McKagan, Lenny Kravitz, and Chris Farley.
I remember the passion of the ‘60s, the liberation of the ‘70s, the greed is good 🤮 ‘80s, and the rock of the ‘90s. You guys know the story from there.
I did not anticipate spending my fifties fighting the fascist creep, and I surely would appreciate not having it consume my sixties, but I am prepared to do battle for the rest of my life if that’s what is required of me.
I spent last week in ER with my 86-year-old mother, who was recovering from pneumonia while battling cancer. She put the “m” in metal. She is small but mighty and a reminder that we live through wars and get on with the living.
In this one life, not everyone makes it this far.
I am grateful.
After Roe was overturned, I tweeted: “Birds still sing under fascism.”
I would prefer they didn’t have to.
Before I shuffle off this mortal coil, we will defeat fascism again.
Now, that would be one helluva birthday present.
****
Related:
****
Bette Dangerous is a reader-funded magazine. Thank you to all monthly, annual, and founding members. Thank you as well to all those who support my work with your generous coffee tips and who buy my ebooks. Some of you prefer making subsidizing donations via venmo, and it’s always greatly appreciated.
Also, a private link to an annual membership discount for older adults, those on fixed incomes or drawing disability, as well as activists and members of the media is available upon request at bettedangerous/gmail. 🥹
More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter/producer, author, and veteran music and nightlife columnist. She is the cohost of RADICALIZED Truth Survives, an investigative show about disinformation and is part of the Byline Media team. Thank you for your support of independent investigative journalism.
🤍
Begin each day with a grateful heart.
🤍
Almost 60
Yay! Randolph returns! 💙
Early HBD fellow Gemini! ♊️ 💜