Bob Dylan in Living Color

April Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Graffiti & Street Art”

The Times, They Are Changing Fast

As I checked into the downtown Minneapolis hotel, the front desk staff member handed me the room key and a ticket for two free drinks. Then, I ascended the elevator to my room, hoping to relax before meeting my brother for dinner. I had free time to spare.

I sat down on the sofa and took off my shoes. The drink ticket said it was good for two free drinks in the hotel bar until 5:30 pm. But it was five o’clock sharp.

So, I pulled on my shoes. As the elevator descended, I imagined savoring a fresh craft beer brewed in a local brewpub.

Approaching the bartender, I prepared to ask about the beers on tap. Before I could speak, he said, “The free drink ticket is good only for Grain Belt and Coors Light.”

Disappointed, I asked for Grain Belt, an old Minnesota brand. Its caramel color was darker than expected. I took a sip. Typical Minnesota compliments came to mind, including “not too bad” and “pretty good.”

After I finished the beer, I walked down Hennepin Avenue toward the restaurant where I was to meet my brother. Normally, on Friday evenings, the bars, restaurants, and playhouses there would be packed. But the pandemic had killed businesses as it had destroyed millions of lives.

A five-story mural caught my eye. It featured images of fellow-Minnesotan Bob Dylan. White letters on the side read, “The times they are a-changin’,” the titles of Dylan’s 1964 album.

Eduardo Korba painted the mural. After the murder of Minneapolis resident George Floyd and civil unrest, the pandemic, rising inflation, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its message fit the times.

My brother and I met and relished our dinner. He expressed how his wife had warned him about walking alone in downtown Minneapolis. That’s because violent crime had metastasized into the city’s core.

We arrived at the Orchestra Hall without incident. After the Minnesota Orchestra played, I reflected on the evening. The beer I drank earlier was “not too bad.” In contrast, the Indian cuisine, and the orchestra’s performance, had surpassed my expectations.

But then the words on the mural came back to me. “The times they are a-changin’”.

P.S. First, you should get my posts in your inbox. Next, to experience all of Medium, through stories by thousands of writers like me, consider signing up for a membership at just $5 per month. You will have the opportunity to make money with your writing, too.

More six-word stories by Randy: