Oldies Truly are Goodies

I was at work the other day (yeah, I've been working a lot), and Smokey Robinson came on the radio.

I said, "Oh! I love this song. I love this artist."

A 16-year-old co-worker, Anees, had a look of puzzlement on her face. "Um, who is this?" she asked.

Me: Smokey Robinson, of course.
Anees: Who?
Me: You don't know who Smokey is?
Anees: Well, no.
Me: God child! Do you know any oldies at all?
Anees: Not really.
Me (hoping she answers yes) : Do you know who Marvin Gaye is?
Anees: No.
Me (putting my face in my hands) : You don't know who Marvin Gaye is?!
Anees: I listen to rap and R&B. You know, like Usher.
Me: Usher would not be here if it weren't for Marvin Gaye. R&B wouldn't be here if it weren't for Motown. You gotta know where you came from.
Anees: What's Motown?
Me: Oh my God.

Come on now, I knew who Marvin Gaye was at 16. Don't most kids? Maybe not. Maybe I've just always been a big fan of oldies. Maybe I need to accept that everyone isn't. But how can you not like Simon and Garfunkle? They might be too slow for some people. And how can you not form a smile when listening to Marvin Gaye? If you didn't, you'd have no heart. And you couldn't be my friend.

Today, right now, I'm listening to "Leaving on a Jetplane." The Peter, Paul and Mary version. I love oldies. Truly now. Next, I'll shake it with The Beatles.