School Of Yesteryear: Taught, Fed, Corrected, Directed

Jump rope, jacks, dodge ball, four square, tether ball; there were more things to be excited about, when it came to the first day of school, than books and a new teacher. I still can remember the crispness of an early autumn morning as we rushed out the door, and ran most of the way […]

V-J Day And The Giant Smooch

V-J Day! August 14, 1945, President Harry S Truman announced Japan had surrendered, and the war was over; insurmountable joy bursting forth in that moment, one such expression caught forever in time by photographer, Alfred Eisenstaedt. Over the years, several people have claimed to be the kissing couple in Times Square. I rather prefer their […]

Spying, My Mission Impossible

Among my many and varied ambitions, I always thought it would be exciting and fulfilling to serve my country as a spy. That’s right. A spy. The plethora of spy shows on television during my formative years had an enormous influence on me; and what more exhilarating career could a young girl from a dusty, […]

American Bandstand, We Got Lost In Your Rock And Roll

Oh happy day! August 5, 1957 was pivotal in music and Baby Boomer history. Making its national debut, broadcast on ABC-TV, live from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 3:30 in the afternoon; fifty-seven years ago, American Bandstand launched our youth culture movement. Hosted and led by perennial teenager Dick Clark, Philadelphia’s high school kids stepped off the […]

Hail To Thee Our Camp Jack Hazard

For weeks now, I have been trying to recall lyrics to the theme song of my childhood summer camp. I went to it as a kid camper, and then worked there as a counselor. Granted, it has been forty-nine years since I last saw Camp Jack Hazard; but some things should not be forgotten. Even […]

Movies, A Bargain At Any Price

Movies, movies, movies. Watching movies always has been one of my favorite pastimes. There was a season in my life when I faithfully went every week to the theater, and watched whatever was playing. Did not matter if it was Oscar worthy, or not; I was able to enter that world of make believe, and […]

Scourge Of The 50’s; Unseen Monster At The Door

As a child who grew up in the San Joaquin Valley of central California, I knew all about summer sizzle. We lived with triple digit heat day after day, and never dreamed there was cooler weather in other places. Well, there was the coast, but that was special, and just for two weeks vacation each […]

Purpose, Rhythm, Destiny; Lessons From The Sea

It finally is the last week in June, and when I was growing up, that meant pack the suitcases and the car, fill the gas tank, and head for Santa Cruz. I do not have any memories of summer vacations spent anywhere else. Santa Cruz was our go to place, and it never occurred to […]

From Sea Monkeys To Baltic Amber – Life Of A Mail Order Shopper

Text message received from daughter who was picking up mail at Post Office: What did you order from Lithuania? I did not know. Texted her back, and told her I was pretty sure I had not sent for a mail order husband. Or a book of Lithuanian Fairy Tales. Or mead; I cannot remember why I […]

Thomas Jefferson And My War With Broccoli

I learned today I have a bone to pick with Thomas Jefferson. Or maybe a leafy green thing to pick with him. “Tom! What were you thinking?” Peacefully reading the news this morning, I came across a story reporting how you were the culprit, the person who introduced those dread broccoli seeds to our United […]