From the Eyes of Someone Born In 1952

Through the eyes of one born in 1952: 1950’s TV craze Muscle cars, blue jeans Poodle skirts, class ring exchanges Simple time, grandparents involved. Girls want to be pretty, men call women girls I Love Lucy Topper, Loretta Young, Show of Shows Grandma’s house on Sundays. Grandpa’s teach skills. Girls want to be beautiful, men call women “dames” 1960’s Marauding cold war Russia cosmonauts Space race Grandparents are moved to nursing homes. Girls want to be Jackie, men call women “wife” JFK and Bobby Dr. Martin Luther King Killed by cowards Grandparents give advice, but visits are more seldom. Girls want to be housewives, men call women back home. Early 1970’s, hippie revolution Egyptian cat queen make-up, free love, anti-war. Barbara Streisand, Sonny and Cher, Bette Midler, Grandparents see an alarming pattern of disrespect. Girls want to be singers and dancers, men get confused. 1980’s Fur vests, striped pants Disco Music, John Travolta, Sundays are just another day. Grandparents have rights, and try to get part time custody of their grandchildren. Women want to have rights, be independent. Men call them “busters” 1990’s, Turn of everything, selfishness on the rise. Assassination of Innocence, church and family are scoffed. Grandparents back off, not daring to give advice, seeing it is not wanted. Women are working all over the place. Men are not the only bread-winners. 2000’s Computers are in houses Children are alone, latch key 911 happens, people pray for a day or two. Grandparents are nowhere around. Men and women get depressed; children are too. 2010’s I-phone. I-pad, I-know. I, me, I, I, I. Lawsuits, lawlessness, spiritually bereft. Communication breakdown; facetime grandparents once in a pink moon (rarely). People sit next to each other and text. Confusion reigns supreme. Breaking down of family is complete. Sorrowful, angry people, disjointed, sad.