AUGUST 2nd - I'm Freaking Bob Dylan




On this day in 1969, Bob Dylan returned to his hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota to attend the 10-year reunion of Hibbing High’s Class of 1959. Disregarding for a moment the authenticity behind the legend and lore of whether Robert Allen Zimmerman was an outcast in high school, how freaking cool must it have been to walk back into that joint 10 years later as one of the biggest stars in rock n' roll? Even if he didn’t really enjoy the reunion, even if he felt crowded by people who used to pick on him, or if it brought back bad memories, or if that girl he had a crush didn’t show up, or whatever the case may be--he still had to feel like he was the cock of the walk, yes? No doubt there were probably people holding on to their notions of high school Bob. Calling him Robert. Zim. Zimmy. Mumbling how he still couldn’t catch a football. But a large part of him had to feel like, “get a load of me.”  I’m freaking Bob Dylan. Hanging with Joan Baez, The Band, Johnny Cash. Bob Freaking Dylan. Brings about the virtues of never peaking too soon. It is absolutely fine if you enjoyed your high school experience (I did), but it’s rather sad if you look upon that experience as the best in your life. Life is about movement. Most of that movement goes up and down. Peaks. Valleys. Trick is not to get complacent. Don't settle for plateaus. Strive. Hell, Dylan just won a Nobel. And while you might never know what that’s like, or even what it’s like to be Bob Dylan at your high school reunion, I hope your peaks last longer than your valleys, and that your trajectory is ever climbing.        

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