- I remember my parents being only
slightly aware of the changes going on as they brought my brother
David and myself up in the city of Philadelphia.
- We lived around the corner of a
public park called "Rittenhouse Square."Our surrounding
neighbors were; The Philadelphia Art Museum, Academy of Music,
Franklin Institute, Independence Hall," where the liberty
bell is stored." Home of Betsy Ross House, "where the
American Flag was made," The Declaration of Independence,
and list goes on and on...
- Quite historical and quite the cultural
environment!"Bohemians" in my early life, then came
the "beatniks" in the fifties with the poetry, coffee
houses, jazz, clothing and even longer hair was happening...
- My father a great scholar, speaker
of seven languages, was an avid listener of the news. This is
what made his day...
-
- One day as I was passing through,
I began to listen just a little, after all" I was very busy
with what I can't say I was busy with," but some things
don't change so with one ear out the door I caught the end of
a conversion, about "undeclared war,"and suddenly the
peace maker I am!"my little ears perked up." I then
began to listen, then question, until finally I got answers!
I did not like what I heard," so I questioned again and
again ,"How could this be possible? My brother David was
getting drafted! I was concerned...
- On this note I became an anti war
protester "MAKE LOVE NOT WAR"became a major part of my life. I'll never forget
the sadness I felt for all the boys going to war, my brother
thankfully never went to Viet-Nam, as he became 4F. I guess you
could say, "with a little help from friends."
- The music was changing so fast...the
peace and love movement was happening... Loving and trusting
one another...no bad vibes. People
of all colors, all races actually brought together to share the
love... we all felt as thought we were responsible for changing
the world... We had The "Beatles" with their longer
hair; "Jim Morrison" with his "take you higher".
Dylan's, "tambourine man"...."Ravi Shankar"
with his "sitar" and my poor parents, gazing in awe
asking "what is happening here?"
The "sixties," brought
us both good and bad memories combined together....... Joy as
the first man walked on the moon."Neil Armstrong" later
to experience his trips once again... Horrific assignations something
none of us will ever forget...."John Kennedy" I think
we all remember exactly where we were and even the time of day
as we watched in horror as his little son "John- John"
saluting his father saying his "good-byes"..... For
a brief time in history we all cried and mourned, unitied together
as a country...
Then followed "Martin Luther"
who had a "dream" he was wiped out...never to see what
became of his "dream" high on this mountain top"...the
"civil rights movement" finally making some progress.
Then came "Robert Kennedy"..... trying to get a handle
on "organized crime" the war in "Vietnam"
and working on becoming the next " President of the United
States"...
I met my first boyfriend "Michael"
in 1964. I was 16 years old. Our first date we went to a "Jim
Hendrix" concert before he was even big at a place called
the "electric factory." I was in awe of both Michael
and Jimmy. We both shared the music of, Holding Company, Janis
Joblin, Country Joe, and Arthur Brown, Jefferson Airplane. An
awesome experience I'll never forget! Michael and I had different
priories...he loved to party a bit to hardy. I loved to party
as well but not 7 days a week !
We drifted apart...to me the sixties weren't all about drugs.
I thought it was more about looking for freedom within the "human
race.
In 1965 more "troops" were
sent in to relieve our boys... protests were being televised,
and a great number of us were speaking out from our "generation."
"MAKE LOVE NOT WAR"
We managed to have many great moments and made historical events.Things
that come to mind are "Woodstock" for its three days
of "love", "peace"and "music".....
Finally after years, our boys were brought home, finally bringing
an end to the war . The memories of those who never made it home
were kept alive in our hearts. I remember how I prayed each and
every night for our "boy's" and for "peace"......
I met my husband got married, unfornutely
I was to young. We were together for 10 years and in early seventies
I was blessed with a "new life" that brought me more
"peace" and "love" that I never knew possible.
THE BIRTH OF MY SON! "DANIEL"
The years have gone by and now I
can tell you I'm now married to my "first boyfriend"
Michael, my "soul mate" for life. Pictured with me
throughout my site...
Bringing me to the next stage of life some thirty years later
feeling the need once again to take charge and contribute to"changing
the world."
We must stop the violence, the killing
of our children...by children. Some how we must find a way to
change back the world and teach our children, "peace"
"love" and "happiness".
I know that I will always keep the dream alive in my heart!
Wouldn't it be an "awesome thing
if we could make "Peace" popular once more, maybe,
just for old time sake.
We must help our children and show them the way for "inner
peace" within themselves and get rid of all their anger…