[March 27, 2024] In 1967, when I was 15, an American rock band, “The Doors,” released the song Light My Fire. Ah, the nostalgia of it all. I first heard the song on the radio when my friend William and I were at his house, and his mom was out grocery shopping. Somehow, we were drawn to its hypnotic beat and sexual psychedelic lyrics. We were told that year that it was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. And we were drawn in, mesmerized by the song’s strong magical allure. William said not to tell our moms that we were listening to it for fear of getting into trouble. Our parents weren’t prudes, but they were careful not to expose our impressionable minds to harmful influences.
And while we were drawn to this music, at the same time we thought it might be cool to start our own band and duplicate well-known hits like Light My Fire. Alas, it was not to be. Fifteen-year-old kids in my neighborhood didn’t have the talent, money, encouragement, discipline, or drive to see any effort through. Perhaps we were just immature nerds having unrealistic dreams. Later that same year, we heard that Light My Fire was performed on The Ed Sullivan Show and that William’s mom had blurted out that this kind of music was “soul stealing,” whatever that meant.
I liked listening to music, but it was not on my priority list for to-do activities. My sister Terri had the 45 rpm record player, and there was no way I would ask her to play this song because she might squeal on me. Nope, I was not taking the chance with that song! Anyway, I preferred being outside and running around with friends doing stupid boy stuff, trying to avoid having any neighbor thinking we were juvenile delinquents. Dad had said that if I didn’t behave, he would send me to a Home for Delinquent Boys. I took this as an empty threat but there is always some truth behind his words, even if I didn’t believe him.
Light My Fire was the song that helped me gain a few friends; some were not the kind of people you want your kids to be around. They were on the path to, heaven forbid, premarital sex, illegal drugs, criminal motorcycle gangs, hippie communes, hashish rooms, or psyched-out, burnt-out, long-haired, freaky peaceniks. I saw several students expelled from school and others run away from home who had decided drugs and alcohol were more important than sticking it out. These options didn’t appeal to me. I liked living at home with a roof over my head and having a mom who cooked supper for us, even if I hated fried liver, fig preserves, slimy okra, and nasty collard greens.
I learned fast that being “free” meant you could travel down a path to hell, and if you choose the lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and other high-risk behavior, then good luck because you probably weren’t going to make it in life.
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NOTE: See all my letters here: https://www.theleadermaker.com/granddaughter-letters/
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I’m new to this blog but this series on “Letters to My Granddaughter” has captured my attention.
Welcome ijore.
Superb letter, sir!!!
😎 Another wonderful letter from Gen. Satterfield in his early teens. 🤣 I continue to find these letters to his granddaughter both informative and lovely at the same time. ❤ It is obvious he loves his granddaughter, as well as all his children and grandchildren. 🎁 And his letters here that he is letting us read are a gift for the future of them. Only if we all could do this.
Well said ZB and Max (below). This is why I read the comments forum where we can discuss these ideas. I learn something each time. And never forget that Gen. Satterfield is a great American Patriot.
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We are starting to see a mental development in the teenager Gen. Satterfield. He is more interested in having good friends, staying out of trouble (despite others in his circle having trouble), appreciating music, knowing that family is a priority in his life, not doing stupid stuff that boys do (even tho he says he does), good and tasteful good, and looking into his own future and figuring out that he will have to work for what he wants and that nothing will be handed to him, from the govt or his family. And that he will have to stand up for himself regardless. But also that he has a duty, a moral duty, to stand up for those who cannot defend themselves (see his other letters) and for what is right. That is a BIG mental leap and a sign of great maturity.
Gen. Doug Satterfield sure knows how to write a letter to a little girl, his granddaughter. He makes these letters both learning and entertaining. She will read them for many years into the future and let us hope her children read them too.
I agree with you Pink Cloud. ❤
Great discussion today. This is one of the most important paragraphs.
“Light My Fire was the song that helped me gain a few friends; some were not the kind of people you want your kids to be around. They were on the path to, heaven forbid, premarital sex, illegal drugs, criminal motorcycle gangs, hippie communes, hashish rooms, or psyched-out, burnt-out, long-haired, freaky peaceniks. I saw several students expelled from school and others run away from home who had decided drugs and alcohol were more important than sticking it out. These options didn’t appeal to me. I liked living at home with a roof over my head and having a mom who cooked supper for us, even if I hated fried liver, fig preserves, slimy okra, and nasty collard greens.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield
Rowen
I 👍 agree with you my friend. Following the wrong crowd leads to destruction. Mom and dad as loving parents knows best.
God Bless General Satterfield and his family.
Ayn, yes, and thank you for saying so. Too many people today are cruel, stupid, envious, and mad about others having something they cannot have. Gen. Satterfield is not that way. You can “see” this in his letters here and other articles. Even as a kid, he seemed to know, somehow, that if he wanted something, like a candy bar, he had to work to get the money to pay for it. No gifts for him. It was an exchange that he learned humans need, want, and desire. Again, thanks Ayn for your blessing for Gen. Satterfield and his family.
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Thank you
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ha ha ha ha ha
thanks all
Yes, indeed, thank you Ayn Jalut.
Wow, nice letter. I hope your granddaughter is appreciating your letters.
Great letter again, Gen. S. I’m getting addicted to your letters to your granddaughter.
🎵 Good music 🎵
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Gen. Satterfield is beginning to learn more about himself and his wants and desires. This particular song merits a strong look and i do think that his parents were right that he should have been restricted from the song at such a young age. Just me thinking.
Hi Jerome, I don’t think that is the message here. Clearly, the song is widely connected to illegal drug use and that is why his friend’s mother didn’t want them listening to it. Not because it was just music but the link.
Good comments, but Gen. Satterfield tells us the lesson he learned — “I learned fast that being “free” meant you could travel down a path to hell, and if you choose the lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and other high-risk behavior, then good luck because you probably weren’t going to make it in life.” – Gen. Satterfield. Camila has it right (see below comment) that we should pay attention. The discussion of what is “freedom” is well worth another visit by Gen. Satterfield. 😁
Even Gen. Satterfield noted that the song helped bring him friends that were not the kind you want to be around because they can drag you down.
Ken
You are on point 👉. Words of the Songs set the tone of your emotions. Certain words that i listen to as a teen put mood for sex. Certain songs that put me in the mood for bad things I didn’t listen to.
The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it. Proverbs 30:17
Love this letter. Thank you, Gen. Satterfield.
“I learned fast that being “free” meant you could travel down a path to hell, and if you choose the lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and other high-risk behavior, then good luck because you probably weren’t going to make it in life.” – Gen. Doug Satterfield. Now this is a lesson we all need to pay close attention to.
Camila
You are so right ✅️
Light my Fire was also a favorite song of mine. Haunting is how I would describe it.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=light+my+fire+song&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqoX6AKuYWL8
Listen to it here. 71M views. WOW. Gen. Satterfield was developing his taste in music at this young age.
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LIGHT MY FIRE…….. hard to not like this song. It appeals to something deep wtihin us.
Very nice, two letters in a row. Getting into these letters is just too easy. I hope they continue for at least 100. At about 6 per month, that means we have a few months to go. Thank you Gen. Satterfield for your ‘letters to my granddaughter.’
Winston, I agree with you that we have a special treat this week with two, plus we are starting now to read more about Gen. Satterfield’s teenage years and these are getting interesting. This is where Gen. S. learned more about living and surviving comfortably outdoors. He is gaining experience that he will later use in the US army. I’m glad that he is in his teenager years now and is writing about them.
Good point Army Captain. And, yes, these letters are captivating but let us not read them just for entertainment, because buried here are many life lessons. 👀👀👀👀👀👀
Army Captain
On point.
I thought so too, Winston.