Leaving our “marks” on I-49

I learned something recently …
Our editor here at The Gazette, renaissance man and LSU fanatic Tony Marks, is woefully behind the times.
But, he’s got great stories as well and was one of the better road trip partners I’ve ever had as we headed up to Shreveport to cover the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl right before Christmas.
Anybody who knows Tony knows he’s salt of the earth and the type of guy that would take the shirt off of his own back to keep you warm if needed.
His character was never in question before or after this road trip.
What I will say, though, is that the man is steeped in traditional music, traditional thoughts and is very much in need of a software update.
First, let’s talk about the good of traveling with “Tone Tone”, as former Gazette sports editor Raymond Partsch III likes to call him.
The man has a wonderfully eclectic taste in music. It can be a traditional Cajun song and the LSU fight song right after that and then leading into Ice Cube right after that.
His ballpark playlist is a treat, and Sacred Heart is lucky to have it in rotation.
Additionally, Tony and I discovered our common bond and love of karaoke.
I told him a wholesome story of sharing a song with my daughter on a cruise ship while Tony shared some karaoke hijinx from one of his LSU road trips.
Something else … he’s extraordinarily well-traveled and I admire that.
The bad of traveling with Tony is that, if we’re being honest, there’s something of a disconnect between us.
As he stated in his column, Tony was unaware of who Post Malone was and blamed it on a sub-generation that he is magically a part of.
Mr. Marks, you see, technically falls within the same generation as I do and is a millennial.
He views it as a pejorative term. I just wish he’d embrace it.
Tony’s anti-millennial stance goes so far as to insist he didn’t know one of the world’s most famous rap artists in Post Malone.
I understand, a lot of people don’t listen to rap music. But, he’s had to at least have heard the name once in his life.
So I, being the good friend and ambassador for the millennial generation that I am, showed Tony that Mr. Post could be an accomplished country artist if he chose to.
He didn’t hate it, and that’s a win.
Next time, I’ll further contaminate his pure little heart and mind.
But, for now, I can say that the trip was a joy, and I’d gladly do it again with Tone Tone.
He just better make sure I get my Whataburger next time …