I grew up in far Northern Minnesota. I also grew up with some good music- Operas, Classical, some Folk and Religious Music. My family ascribed to some sort of religious beliefs that included no make-up, no jewlrey, and certainly no dancing or Rock and Roll. I used to press my ear to my radio, secretly at night, trying to catch what was happening in the larger world. If the weather conditions were just right-one might pull in WLS-Chicago (rock back then), or something even more interesting for small bits of time. (if one turned the radio just right, and used coat hangers to help out) When I graduated from High School, I headed for the big city (Ha-Ha), Bemidji State College. I had maybe twenty dollars, and headed right on down to the Pamida Store and bought a Dylan LP, rather than buying a meal ticket. I played it on my flip-top record player until the grooves turned white. At the time, the lyrics and music felt like freedom. Over the years, Dylans Music-Lyrics have provided so many pictures in my head. As my life changed, so did the pictures. I am not a Dylanologist-don't know what the man really meant with any of his stuff. He just layed it out there and it was present with me all these years in my confusion, sadness, joy, love, loss, wandering and exploration, or what ever crossed my journey. Is that which flows through him a spiritual thing? All I know is that it fed my spirit and has changed with me and stuck by me, like a dog is a friend. I can't say that about many things in life. Only in the last 15 years, have I ever seen Dylan live. People sometimes complain that the music never sounds "the same". I have always known that his music is never the same twice, whether he is playing it live or I am playing it in my mind. He is the vessel for a reason, but some of his stuff, has been out there as long as time. It lives, and awaited the one who could receive it. Living things should never stay the same.
Because others tried to choose my music when I was young, I was very careful not to lay anything on my children. I used to play Dylans music around the house all the time, and at one point-my children bought me headphones so they would not have to hear it. Now that they are grown-they have their own collections of Dylan. They found him on their own, and the richness is theirs.
Sometimes when I read things about Bob Dylan, I think WOW, we humans are strange. Why would we presume we know him, or own him. Still, he has left the masses a hell of a lot of gifts, and I hope they keep on coming. When it comes to Dylans music in my life-I feel like "Every Grain of Sand", and I am grateful.