The Final Act....

While visiting a friend this past weekend in Northern California I was lucky enough to take in a Stevie Nicks concert. The woman is amazing. To see her in concert is to be apart of something that is beyond words. She is truly one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever.

As much as I enjoyed the concert there was a part of me that couldn’t help but be a little sad. I was sad because I wondered how many more years and decades the world would have left to experience this remarkable performer. Of course, she is only 57, but there will come a point when she will step down and pass the torch over.

It’s not the aging part that I think about. It’s the moving on and the final act in one’s life. I think about how lucky I was to know and be witness to certain individuals who have helped shape the person I am today. People in my own life, who are in a sense, living their final act. Of course, I know that life can’t go on forever and our life can be taken away at any time. But I still can’t help but think about this large group who are with us, and those like my mother who have already passed on. All these incredible people: our grandparents, mothers, friends, confidants, mentors.

All of these greats that have come before - will leave. Of course, their marks will never fade but their departure will open the door for the new. And this leaves me wondering-who will come next? Will my generation rise to the challenge? The so called Generation X’ers? Who amongst the group will rise to the challenge of these people before?

I recently came across an article that said Generation X is made up of “cynical, hopeless, frustrated and unmotivated slackers who wear grunge clothing, listen to alternative music and still live at home because they cannot get real jobs”. Yes, this could classify a few (within any generation for that matter) but I can’t believe that is the majority.

Yes, we have big shoes to fill, no doubt about it. But I am more than confident we can rise to the challenge. After all, we have/had the very best to learn from.