Changing Tastes

I know as we mature, our tastes in many things changes. Sometimes we abandon something we feel we out grew, sometimes we revisit something, due to nostalgia. Lately it seems that my tastes and new obsessions are all over the board. Now don't get me wrong, I already had a very eclectic mix of likes, but I think I've finally abandoned worrying about what people think. Yes, yes I did worry, even if I pretended not to.

I've always liked opera, but recently it's become a passion for me. I'm planing on taking trips up to the Ozarks to see Carmen, in late July. Carmen is my favorite opera, but I've been stretching lately and have started listening to operas outside those known in popular culture. I've even seriously thought about taking up singing lessons so I can sing my favorite aria, Habanera. I can sing, sure, but I've never had what one would call an operatic voice. Being a mezzo soprano, this is one of the few lead role arias in my register, but it is my favorite, so it's win win.

I have revisited my musical roots, so to speak. I had long abandoned Rush, Journey,Styx and the like. I discovered Punk around 1978 and it was my understanding that a punker could not like Geddy Lee or Steve Perry, so shelved my LPS and hid them in my closet. Now days I realize how silly it was for me to do this. I loved those groups. At one time I was as excited about them as I was later about the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Black Flag and The Cure. I have put them in playlist rotation and to my surprise I still know every word to every song. It's like it's been hidden safe inside me, until I felt secure enough to let it out. Silly how we let labels dictate what we allow in our life.

Lately I lean toward folk music. More harmonies and acoustical instruments. Groups like Fleet Foxes, Edward Sharpe and the Magnatic Zeroes, Avi Zee, and Larry and his Flask. This is the type of music that in the past, I would have done anything to avoid. I happen to think this is the right soundtrack for my life right now.

My changing tastes extend to foods too. Things I formally found repulsive, I now love. Pesto, blue cheese, feta, clams, sushi, salmon, dark chocolate. These things I hated before I reached age 35. I'm wondering if maybe my taste buds have just matured. Maybe I just wasn't ready for these intense flavors until I closed in on 40? I've also reached back to experience things I use to love, but no longer have in my diet rotation. Pancakes with apple sauce is still amazing. fondue .............I should be doing this more! Mom used to make these awesome fondue meals and I have been trying to replicate the sauces that went with the meat and shrimp offerings. She gave me her old fondue pot and I've been scouring the thrift shops to find a few more. It is my wish to have a big fondue party, complete with 70's dress and music, such fun!

I have been reading books, ones by Ayn Rand, Collette, and Updike. I tried to read Rand in college, but frankly, I couldn't get into it. The other two I just had an irrational aversion to. I think I now have the maturity to enjoy Rand and Updike, and Collette, why was I so against reading her? I love Collette. I needed Collette. But to be fair, I don't think I would have enjoyed or understood "Cheri" in my 20's, the way I do now. ( "I love my past, I love my present, I am not ashamed of what I have had, and I am not sad because I no longer have it.") Maybe, Collette is best enjoyed by the 40 yr old women? But she had a lot to offer the 20 yr old me and I wonder how my life would have played out, had I read her before.

I've also been revisiting books I read, while young, to see how my views have changed. I always considered myself pretty astute, but I think some of the themes of "The Illustrated Man" , "Animal Farm", and books by Emerson, Thoreau, and Whitman alluded me. Oh to be in a class now to talk about these writings. Back then I just listened, occasionally piping in to give a thought. But now, I can immerse myself into Transcendentalism and would love to have a scholar to guide me. What's that they say? Youth is wasted on the young?

Does taste really change? Or do we just mature to enjoy the complexities of certain things? I mean, I still like ranch dressing, but damn, there are some days I crave blue cheese. I can still have a day where I only want to listen to the punk gods, but most days a gentle melody is more my speed. Maybe instead of saying tastes change, I should just say it 's evolving. Yes, my taste is in an ever changing state of evolution. Who knows what will appeal to me tomorrow? I kinda can't wait to see.