Journey back to Woodson: Some chapters are very interesting

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Some chapters are very interesting

Sorry I haven't been posting here lately. A lot has been happening in my life and I have been trying to chug along on "When I'm 64."

I recently finished a first draft of a chapter on Barbara Lanzer, the one member of our class who returned to Woodson as an administrator before being promoted last year.

I'm not posting her chapter yet -- she hasn't commented back on it -- and I don't know if I will, but the one very interesting thing I found in talking to people -- particularly guys -- about Barbara was that she was remembered as one of the really "hot" girls in our class.

Now I didn't know Bobbie in that way (actually I didn't know anyone in our class in that way), but I find myself wondering what "hot" meant in '66-67 compared to 10-15 years later.

I always liked the song "Good Girls Don't," by the Knack, which came out in 1979, but I have a feeling a girl didn't need to be that active in 1967 to be called "hot."

Maybe just kissing with something other than tightly pursed lips would have done it.

More soon.

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The questionnaire

We're still looking for more people to participate in "When I'm 64." Below is the questionnaire to fill out and send to Mike Rappaport at m_rappaport@earthlink.net.

Thanks.

Please answer the questions as fully as possible. Short answers are not useful, although they can be helpful in providing areas for follow-up in an interview. An answer of 2-3 paragraphs or longer to many of the questions will be appreciated.

1. Short answer here, and be honest. How did you view yourself in high school? (popular, jock, politico, nerd, school-spirited, etc.) And how did others view you?

2. How did you see our years at Woodson (1963-67) in the context of the same period in the U.S. Remember that there were race riots all over the country in those years, that Vietnam protest was beginning, etc. Were we involved? Were we sheltered?

3. A lot of fascinating things happened in the years immediately after we left high school – assassinations, Chicago ’68, the moon landing, Woodstock, more war protests, etc. What involvement did you have with any of these things?

4. In those same years, were you hippie or straight, military or protester? In other words, how did you finish the ‘60s?

5. Moving ahead, how did you enter adulthood? The traditional college and job model, or in and out of school finding yourself? Or have you resisted growing up all these years?

6. Here’s one you can skip if you like: Was the sexual revolution a part of your life, or have you been fairly traditional?

7. An important one: Has your life been relatively similar to that of your parents or very different? If so, how?

8. How much has high school remained an important part of your life? Lifelong friends, contacts, etc.?

9. How has your life so far turned out compared to what you thought it would be when you were 18? Very similar? Very different? How and why?

10. Tell us about your family.

11. Tell us the most interesting thing that ever happened to you.

12. Tell us – if you want – the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.

13. When was the time you stopped thinking of 64 as extremely old? What do you expect to be doing "when you’re 64?"

14. Philosophize a little – if you’d like – about the long, strange trip our generation has been on since 1967.

15. Tell us the best way to get in touch with you for a follow-up interview.

Journey back to Woodson

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Some chapters are very interesting

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The questionnaire

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