Can you think of someone in your lifetime who has inspired you and changed your perspective and sense of reasoning?

For me it was the great singer Joan Baez. I fell in love with her music in my early teens and her music was like an epiphany it would take pages to describe.

How could any male of my vintage not have fallen irretrievably in love with "St.Joan?" Stunningly beautiful, a true musical virtuosa and everything we believed in during that idealistic era.

Remember, my brothers and sisters of the 60's, "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"

While Ms.Baez and I are not personal friends, we do exchange letters now and then and it makes me happy that at least she knows who I am and how grateful I am that she has made such an impact on my consciousness.

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jackson55 · M Best Comment

For me it was a Navy flight instructor.

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Grateful4you · M

@jackson55 A wise man. I too sought to empower those I taught as a manager.

Grateful4you · M

@jackson55 BTW. Thank you for your service sir!

jackson55 · M

@Grateful4you Thankyou. 👍

dubkebab · 51-55, M

I was born in '68 to peacenik parents,so Joanie and Bobby and all that pantheon were like kinfolk.The last time I saw her live was maybe 8-10 years ago...a splendid fall day at a huge outdoor free show in Golden Gate park.I was having a mind boggling chat with the legendary singer/poet Excene Chervenka after a great set and she signed my program,photo op,trivia and laughs,when she asks a friend "hey,what time is it? 6pm? We need to head over to the main stage to hear Joan Baez!" so we three strode through the crowd like old pals arriving just as the mellifluous tones of the legend drifted across the wisps of fog and everyone singing along and smiling and kids,dogs and elders of various tribes grooving and grokking in one of those crystal clear life-affirming moments which remind me why I listen to music.I was sober but super high to have had that experience that day. How cool that you have corresponded with her.She is a rare artiste who has stuck with her beliefs and continually gives to the community.

My most influential figure is probably Lee Perry-the mighty upsetter-who I had the good fortune to meet 3 times and manage to not make too much of a fool of myself.I gave him a seashell he quite liked on what was to be one of his last US tours before his death this year.The man is gone but the music lives on.

Grateful4you · M

@dubkebab Thanks for a really great and interesting post. Joan is such a wonderful affirmation that integrity, determination and communication can make a difference.

dubkebab · 51-55, M

@Grateful4you Agreed,and thanks for reminding us.
I just pulled up a great version of 'love is just a four letter word' w/Earl Scruggs.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnVDI5USgiE]
Chills,and emotions running the gamut after a long day.
I hadn't listened to that in ages.

helenS · 36-40, F

For me it was my maths teacher in high school, that [u]genius[/u] man. He made me understand the concept of limits, using examples from antiquity, such as Achilles and the tortoise. Although he never mentioned the name Cauchy, I now understand how he made us understand Cauchy's thinking.
🌷 <== for my old maths teacher.

Grateful4you · M

@helenS I envy you. Math was my nemesis, I had a horror of them yet somehow also fascinated at the same time. Go figure.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Grateful4you Who knows – without that great man I might have remained innumerate.

Grateful4you · M

@helenS My favorite teacher was my drama teacher. She was totally retro. A character straight out of some Lillian Hellman play of the 30's. Prim and proper with sensible shoes, a lace collar and a perpetual frown.

smiler2012 · 56-60

{@grateful4you ] three people i have worked with they where like good role models for me to follow

Grateful4you · M

@smiler2012 It would be nice if you were able to personally thank them. My one compliment from an employee was, "David is the kind of boss who can tell you to go to hell and you would actually look forward to the trip"