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Recollections of October

It was October, the leaves fell, I reveled in my youth. But what happened in sixty-two took the fun and innocence out of autumn; There were missiles in Cuba. Missiles,with more on the way. Warnings were given, demands and threats made. At thirteen I learned the meaning of a naval blockade. Grown-ups spoke in hushed tones over hastily brewed coffee, eyes and ears glued to the television for the latest news. We went to bed and slept uneasily, not knowing what kind of world we would wake up to, if we woke up at all. Two giants, swords drawn, faced each other in a battle of wills. The great bear blinked and we stepped back from the abyss that nearly swallowed an anxious world. It was October, the leaves fell, somehow I felt much older.

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Yolanda Nicholsen

Date: 4/26/2024 6:09:00 AM

This is so intriguing I wasn’t born but read the history of the Cuban conflict enjoyed reading your work.

J. Summers
Date: 4/27/2024 9:46:00 PM

Yolanda, thanks for stopping by to read. It’s appreciated. John

Gershon Wolf

Date: 4/12/2024 4:07:00 PM

Whoa. I was 12 and remember it like it was yesterday --- heh-heh, maybe like it was last night... Five years ago is almost a blank in my mind, but not Kennedy vs. Kruschev or the Kennedy vs. Nixon debates in 1960. You reprise it well, John. Hope we're not stuck on the brink with Biden!! What a contrast: Our youngest (at the time) Pres. as compared to old slow Joe... Doesn't bode well for us, does it? Joe will have to 'move ahead with vigah!' lol.

J. Summers
Date: 4/27/2024 9:52:00 PM

Missed this one when it first came…sorry. Your contrast is well noted. John

Tony Hargreaves

Date: 1/9/2024 2:09:00 PM

Frightening times. Krushchov with missiles aimed at the US. But did the US have missiles in Europe aimed at Russia. Methinks I'd rather not know. Tony

J. Summers
Date: 1/10/2024 6:23:00 PM

Thanks much for reading Tony, tense times indeed. And yeah, you’d rather not know. John

Gershon Wolf

Date: 10/10/2023 7:47:00 PM

I like how you tied in those nerve-wracking days in October '62 with the autumn leaves falling --- and aging... I remember those days vividly. The neighbor next door actually dug himself a fallout shelter. (He was quite the outdoorsman and so coordinated).

Gershon Wolf
Date: 11/13/2023 4:12:00 PM

Added meaning now, with the chaos that broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Let's hope that there's a leader around with enough awareness and common sense to take a step back from the abyss this time. Now, the odds are worse though, with so many different countries at war or on the verge of war. ~ Pray, Gershon

J. Summers
Date: 10/11/2023 3:10:00 PM

Crazy times then. Living in the shadow of NW Indiana’s steel industry I figured we were first strike territory for sure. Thanks for the thoughts. John

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 10/8/2023 12:19:00 PM

- Uncertain times affect us a lot ... I think there are many young people (and adults) who get worried when the media drops everything into our laps ... life becomes different - A great write with your feelings, J. - hugs

J. Summers
Date: 10/8/2023 3:36:00 PM

Thanks so much for reading. Things have been tense before but most could handle that. Now the problems are bigger, more numerous and world wide…yeah, it tends to freak people out. Thanks again. John

Tom Woody

Date: 10/2/2023 6:50:00 AM

Awesome historical poetry. The Cuban missile crisis. I was only one but my dad was in the army at the time. He had his four years in but exit was delayed due to the above incident.

J. Summers
Date: 10/2/2023 12:39:00 PM

Thanks for reading, it was quite a time. John