For us Late-in-Lifers, I don't think it would be presumptuous of me to say that David Bowie, who died today at the age of 69, was probably one of the more fascinating artists to populate our memories over the past 4 decades. I found this article in Out.com which I think underscores the deep influence he has had on the LGBT community and his identification with "otherness". His brilliance was his ability to discard forms of being that did not suit him, and we travelled together with him on his own adventure of self-discovery. Here is the best quote, in my opinion, from that article, and the one that should resonate with most of us here who are fundamentally on that same extraordinary path in our later years:
Love this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8NZa9wYZ_U&index=23&list=PLbQnQuDMO9nH6vt9V6UelrEnq9FYnX8-C
Thanks, GW. This really resonates with me. I really only started being me when i came out at 63 — it's a work in progress!
In 1972 this came on TV after school. I, and nobody else, had seen anything like it And decades of reinvention and genius followed. [YOUTUBE]4B5zmDz4vR4[/YOUTUBE]
I can honestly say I was never a huge fan of his, though I did like his work. But what a colossal figure he was, not just in any one category, but because of his wide-ranging influence. This non-fan is extremely sad to see him go.
If I could trade lives with anyone, it would be David Bowie. Some people produce great art; some people have amazing adventures. He did both.