The Old Rolling Stone

In order to understand this story you need to picture it first.

The day is rainy and gloomy outside. It is a day that normal people just don’t walk around.

There on the street is a strange person walking. Then he stops and walks up to the house across the street and peers into the window. The person is dressed with a hood on – and likely because it is raining the hood is up.

This scene in front of you – if you are looking on you might be concerned. Maybe as much as it did the person that called the police and reported the strange man doing odd things on your street in the little town you live in. I mean in this town you know everyone…

So… when the police arrive the story in front of you gets better. They talk to the man and he is shaking his head. He reaches into his pocket and produces nothing… This is going to be interesting…

On the scene…
Police Officers Kristie Buble and her partner Officer Derrick Meyers, both in their early 20s, look on as the old guy tries to explain who he is. The man is well seasoned looking, wrinkled and rather sad looking. He is soaking wet from being in the rain. Perhaps he has wondered away from his shelter or hostel?

When they asked him for his ID he couldn’t produce it. He had none on him.

When he told them his name – they didn’t know him. I mean they deal with felons of all sorts every day and how would they know or remember everyone. The name sounded somewhat familiar – but really didn’t ring a bell.

The mystery grows.

Across the street… the person that called watched as they herded the man into the police cruiser and drove away. That person musty have felt good at that moment. Another culprit apprehended.

Back in the cruiser…
The mysterious man had convinced them that the Bus he had been on was not far away and if they would take him to it he could show them his ID and prove who he was. Sure Sure…

I just bet the Coppers had not had a whacko like this one before. AND I know they will never have one again.

The Hooded, Soaking Wet Stranger peering into windows of the house on that street was none other than Bob Dylan, the absolutely famous singer, composer and stage person that is now 68 years of age, wrinkled or should I say well seasoned… well done!

There is no way that two young cops, 20 some years of age, would every know who this old dude was. I mean under a soaking wet hood he didn’t look like a famous person! And to top it off they would never have known his music… they just don’t know THAT kind of music… nor listen to that kind of singing. Talk about weird!

One of the articles that I read described it this way…
“Police were called in a quiet seaside town after he was spotted freewheelin' down the street and apparently acting suspiciously. A 22-year-old female officer demanded to see his identification papers.

He assumed she would at least recognise the name if not the face. But she ordered him into the back of her car and took him to his hotel to check his story.

Then she radioed her older colleagues at the police station to ask if anyone knew who Bob Dylan was.

'I'm afraid we all fell about laughing,' said Craig Spencer, a senior officer in Long Branch, New Jersey. 'If it was me, I'd have been demanding his autograph, not his ID.

'The poor woman has taken rather a lot of abuse from us. I offered to bring in some of my Dylan albums. Unfortunately, she doesn't know what vinyl is either.'

It was in 1965 that Dylan wrote Like A Rolling Stone, with its line: 'How does it feel to be on your own, a complete unknown?'

He found out while staying at the Ocean Place Resort in Long Branch. Before taking part in a concert with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, he decided to take a stroll through the town's Latin quarter.

'Residents called to complain there was an old scruffy man acting suspiciously,' said officer Spencer. 'It was an odd request because it was mid-afternoon. But it's an ethnic Latin area and the residents felt he didn't fit in.'

When I read this story I nearly died laughing. What a crock! This youngster had no idea who this old turkey was. Too funny…

Two days ago I was preparing some photos to scan for my daughter from her wedding 16 years ago. There in the photo was a very young man standing with his wife and two daughters. He had dark hair and was much younger looking. He was me. Hokey Mokey – how things have changed on this “Rolling Stone”. I got old over night! In fact if the truth be told I got old over several nights… WOW! How could it happen?

I know reports are phony when they say that “Elvis is Alive” – he would be so old and wrinkled now that NO ONE would recognize the dude!

In this Blog I show Bob Dylan’s photos. The one above is the NOW edition… the ones at the end are the THEN editions.

The moral of this story… if you are 68 years of age – don’t wear a hoodie on a very wet day and peer into empty houses – even if they are for sale. And even if you are writing a new song about empty houses you gotta know that they will suspect you of doing something weird… just because you are old and seasoned looking.

For all the Old Guys out there… married to a somewhat younger person… watch out… you are old and dangerous!

Alida and I looked at a Motor Home to travel to Arizona sometime… you know – do the Rolling Stone thing… but I looked in the mirror and I am way more dangerous than Bob Dylan and nobody knows my name and I wonder around allot!

Now read the lyrics below… how prophetic is the sentiment that Dylan penned? How fitting… too funny!
~ Murray Lincoln ~http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Like A Rolling Stone
Once upon a time you dressed so fine

You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?

People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall

"You thought they were all kiddin' you

You used to laugh about

Everybody that was hangin' out

Now you don't talk so loud

Now you don't seem so proud

About having to be scrounging for your next meal.

How does it feel

How does it feel

To be without a home

Like a complete unknownLike a rolling stone?

You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely

But you know you only used to get juiced in it

And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street

And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it

You said you'd never compromise

With the mystery tramp, but now you realize

He's not selling any alibis

As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes

And ask him do you want to make a deal?

How does it feelHow does it feel

To be on your ownWith no direction home

Like a complete unknown

Like a rolling stone?

You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns

When they all come down and did tricks for you

You never understood that it ain't no good

You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you

You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat

Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat

Ain't it hard when you discover that

He really wasn't where it's at

After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel

How does it feel

To be on your own

With no direction home

Like a complete unknown

Like a rolling stone?

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people

They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made

Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things

But you'd better lift your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe

You used to be so amused

At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used

Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse

When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose

You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel

How does it feel

To be on your own

With no direction home

Like a complete unknown

Like a rolling stone?
Source:
http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/rolling-stone
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/14/bob.dylan/index.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/bigbrother/article-1206617/Like-complete-unknown-Bob-Dylan-frogmarched-collect-ID-rookie-policewoman-fails-recognise-scruffy-music-legend.html