Journey back to Woodson: A lot has happened in 40 years

Thursday, November 8, 2007

A lot has happened in 40 years

A few years back, Billy Joel did a song called "We Didn't Start the Fire," chronicling all that had happened since the beginning of the Baby Boom.

Lots of stuff.

What always amazes me is when I think back -- way back -- and find myself realizing that something had happened since we left Woodson.

For one thing, nobody had heard of Billy Joel in 1967.

But think about this ...

Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King, the Chicago convention, the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia ... all since 1967.

The moon landing, Woodstock, the big Vietnam War protests ... all since 1967.

Kent State, Spiro Agnew, Watergate, the trial of the Chicago Seven ... all since 1967.

POW/MIA bracelets, pet rocks, WIN buttons, "Disco Duck," heck, disco itself ... all since we left Woodson.

What else?

1 comment:

Dale Morgan said...: Off the top of my head...microwaves, designer dogs, cell phones, answering machines, mammograms, colonoscopies, CD's, HD TV, palm pilots, voice mail, Internet, email, palm pilots, MySpace, Blogs...and here we are.; November 8, 2007 at 6:23 AM

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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

Thursday, November 8, 2007

A lot has happened in 40 years

1 comment:

The questionnaire

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