Decade of the 60s

Baby boomers were a generation of big,bold and slightly brassy individuals who ruled the 1960s with poof y over sprayed, teased hair, freethinking philosophers and most of all, the edgy excitement of rock and roll. immortalized by a fabulous singer, named Mitch Ryder, who sang a song called, Devil with a blue dress on. It's contents were about a lady called Ms. Molly, who wore a wig hat and alligator shoes. My friend JJ and I didn't own alligator shoes, but we did own wig hats t5hat sported large red bows. We marched around the downtown area, proudly portraying them, feeling like hip, young teen in all of their glory; or so we thought! and garter belts that I wore in the seventh grade had been replaced by this modern version. We no longer had to worry about dark snakes running up the back of each leg in a wiggly, wobbly manner. Unfortunately, hose were still made out of nylon, so runs were very common. We cured that problem by always carrying a bottle of clear nail polish that could be dabbed at the end of any run, thus ensuring that it wouldn't get any longer. Of course, the fact that the polish ran through the hose to the skin of your leg, leaving funny little crystal looking spots on them, didn't matter. We simply ignored that problem, despite the fact that with every step, the polish pulled at your leg and sent little sparks shooting down it.

The truth is, after viewing old pictures, is that we both looked like idiots who had two fingers. plus their big toes, stuck into a light socket. There was no way way that anyone could actually be dumb enough to throw away good money for anything that ghastly unless it was Halloween. That proved that we had spent too many long, hot Fads and slang invaded every aspect of our lives. Words like cool, days stretched out on towels. at the neat, keen, hip and tough infiltrated city swimming pool. underneath the hot, steaming, summer sun. Or every thought and every perhaps, all of that bouncing around conversation. as we jived our way across the dance floor, had rattled our brains Clothes and shoes had a major and left us vulnerable to crazy impact on us. We wore Italian emotions and wild spending habits. loafers, penny loafers, rock 'n roll saddle shoes, white sneakers, black I hope so, because if neither one of them applies, then I swear to you, it hi-top Converse sneakers, white wasn't me in that picture! It had to socks, pegged jeans, go-go boots, be a doppelganger! hairpieces, falls (long hair held in place by a cloth hairband) and wig We more than made up for these hats. insane things, by purchasing simple dresses designed in the Empire, a Wig hats consisted of black long line style. They came in a variety of fuzz that you actually brushed, colors and textures. We added We also wore denim dresses, wool sprayed in place and then embellished with your your favorite skinny heals and pantyhose to them. pleated skirts in solid colors like Thank goodness, the same nylons green, navy, black and age, angora, hair-bow. They were even

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hand knit, hooded sweaters,plaid shorts and his and hers, going steady matching shirts. Along with those shirts, we accepted their rings and decorated them with angora strings that you wrapped round and round until the ring no longer threatened to fall of your hand. Of course, we matched the color of the angora to the outfit of the day. These rings told everyone that you were taken off the dating market. The idea was to accept only ring at a time; but things happen and I once found the proud possessor of two of them. Did I tell you that I was very good at landing myself in hot water, but terrible at getting myself out of it. I solved that little problem by giving both rings back, then running like crazy! I am pretty sure that I qualified as a whacky 60's chick. The early 60s displayed a true era of how far out can fads go by selling a line of clothing that mimicked the popular TV shows, such as Dr. Kildare. That show inspired a medical looking, long, white shirt that buttoned up the side from hip to neck. Chubby Checkers groovy dance inspired an even wackier one called the twist, another long white blouse with a huge ruffle that ran sown the front from neck to hip. Being the fashion icon of my day, I happily supported both of those beauties. My only defense is that I was only 13 years old. Every generation has its heroes, and we had several. Three of ours were truly prominent. One of these was John F. Kennedy, President of the United States. He, along with his beautiful wife Jacqueline, inspired the heritage called Camelot. Mrs. Kennedy awed us with her timeless class and gracious display of honor The nation cried when her infant son died shortly after birth ,and they mourned with her when her beloved husband was shot and killed as he sat, next to author of one of the world's most inspiring words, I HAVE A DREAM, was cut down in the prime of his life due to racial strife. It is ironic, because he embraced everyone from every walk of life and begged all of us to accept each man for who he is. I remember watching his wife on TV, as she strove to maintain her composure and assure the world that her husband's work would go on. She was beautiful and dignified, but her eyes held a deep pain in them that broke my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Ironically, Bobby Kennedy her, in the backseat of a convertible during a welcoming parade in the state of Texas. November 22, 1963 became an infamous time in history, as a mysterious gunshot came out of a grassy knoll and claimed the life of a man that the country had grown to respect and love. That was followed by one of history's most heinous crimes, the assassination of a beloved, black man named Martin Luther King! The date and the year was April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. The

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decided to follow the steps of his brother John, but unfortunately,he too was assassinated. He left behind a large family of small children, a grieving wife named Ethel, and the huge Kennedy clan. His brother, Edward,became the family patriarch, and spent the remainder of his years caring for, and watching out for each and every member of it, while staying in politics and supporting his country. The world mourned in shock and pain. The idea that anyone could harm leaders such as these man, left us reeling. Where was on the hope? How could our dreams survive amidst such devastation! As in the words of a song ,Where have all of the young men gone? They were gone but not forgotten; our memories of them survived because of their teachings, lectures, speeches and thoughts. They left us a heritage born out of honor and humanity, blessed by their belief of man's innate goodness and the greatnes of our country. necked ,TV veteran named Ed Sullivan. He began each program with the words, We have a really big show for you tonight. He pronounced it like shew. Surprisingly, even though adults such as our parents and Many young man and women grandparents admired him, he had married with their parents the courage to introduce acts like blessings, and immediately started a Elvis Presley. He kept the oldsters family. Men with wives and happy by shooting Elvis from his children were dropped from the awaist up. That way, only the one-list. Ninety-nine percent of audience watched as he swiveled these guys weren't cowards, only his famous hips and moved his feet young men confused by the draft, in time to the music. Preachers war and terrified by the numerous believed that his movements were body bags being shipped home. lured and disgusting, demoralizing the youth of the day. He earned the nickname, Elvis the Pelvis. Teens Every time we lost a friend, we mourned them them and wondered why? What started the war What was it about Why were we there What were we fighting for?. Even the brave men ,who had fought in World War I and World War II, balked at the Vietnam War, and demanded answers that no one could or would give them. fighting a war that no one understood. Some of them fled to Canada in protest, terrified that they would never be allowed to set foot on the ground of their home country again. It was a sad time in our history, as all wars are; but it was more than that; it was a time of unease, loss and bitterness.

It was also a time of chaos and war. Vietnam held us in its grip, and Uncle Sam demanded that every boy, who became a man at As we watched our friends depart, the tender age of 18, submit to a all that we could do was write them physical and accept the possibility of being drafted into the military. If often, send care packages and pray. college was your dream, your As Henry Ford said, I now know grades needed to be excellent, that wars do not end wars.! otherwise, the militar claimed you for the next several years. On a happier theme men of note graced our black-and-white Many young men fought for their televisions through the use of music country out of love and duty, and talent. One of them was a stiffdespite the fact that they were

everywhere tried to emulate his hip movements and slant eyed look. His voice was like velvet, his look was sensual and his clothes were spectacular. The Beatles and numerous other rockers hit his stage and Ed welcomed each one. Suddenly, the

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rapture in the coldest eye. As color invaded our TVs, a new genre called Motown was introduced to us and Dick Clark's bandstand became the dream of every American teen. Dancing on his stage was the number one fantasy, as he beamed into our living rooms every weekend. He and his teens danced their way into our hearts and souls. Solo singers, dancers and groups hit the scene with one name, switched to a new name and changed groups daily like a pair of dirty socks. Some of them went solo, then became part of a group again, only to reappear as a solo act or part of a duo. It was confusing, but no one cared because song after song, hit after hit climbed the charts, then disappeared allowing another to follow in its steps. Many of them had one major hit and were never heard from again. We called them one hit wonders. All that mattered was the music itself. We allowed it to lift us up, crash us down, make us happy and make us sad. It was both, the beast and the beauty inside of us, or in the words of Robert Montgomery; Through every pulse the music stole, and held that sublime communion with the sole; wrung from the quietest breast the imprisoned sigh, and kindled No matter the insanity of the 60s, we used the wings of music to wake our souls, stir us to life, wash away pain and lift us high. It was a complicated time, but to the destinies of fate, I bow my head and give thanks. Sixties you were a grand old dame! May you fly in a new found peace, and be ever remembered with happiness and pride by those of us who grew up in your midst!

man that teens had overlooked, became a household name. His really big show brought us into a new century, where rock ruled and music stormed the nation Again, preachers were in shock, when he used his stage to introduced solo, male crooners who played guitars and looked at the audience with sultry eyes that made young, impressionable girls swoon. Popularity was often measured by the number of girls passed out on the floor, or screaming and crying hysterically. Despite the worry of adults, it was a great adventure and very exciting These rock idols seldom lasted long, replaced weekly by someone new. Elvis was one of the few exceptions to this rule, perhaps because he died so young and thus became a tragic, beloved rock hero. Second, but never least, was then eternally youthful man named Dick Clark. In later years, when asked the secret of his perpetual young, good looks, he replied always choose the right parents.