Woodstock...Who Had Time For It?

In August of 1969, I was mothering an infant, working full time, going to college full time, volunteering two evenings a week in a medical free clinic with my child in a back pack, helping my mom care for my Dad who was diagnosed with MS, and trying to be wife. My husband was working full time night shifts, going to college full time, fathering an infant and trying to be a husband. Who had time for Woodstock?

What did Woodstock accomplish?

Proved that just because you sing doesn't mean you have talent.
It's OK to abuse elicit drugs or any other kind of drug.
It's OK to go nude in public.
It's OK to make love to anyone, anywhere.
Drunk is an acceptable form of behavior for anyone, including children.
It's OK to act out.
It's OK to be obnoxious to law enforcement and parents.
It's OK to display ANY kind of behavior in front of your kids and allow them to watch other adults display stupid behavior too.
Proved free love is never free, especially for women.
Declared clothing optional.
It was OK to urinate and defecate in public.
It's OK for a half a million people to make a total wreck of a beautiful area and do nothing to restore it.
Declared pot is just a natural weed.
Free loading is just fine.
Declared that kids really do not need parenting....they just need to be free.

What Woodstock did not accomplish:

Did not stop the war in Vietnam.
Did nothing to stop poverty.
Did not solve discrimination.
Did not encourage virginity.
Did not encourage self independence.
Did not prevent STD's or unwanted pregnancy.
Did not accomplish healthy parenting.
Did not support the environment or ecology.

To me, it encouraged the downfall of an entire youthful generation, mine! Woodstock was and still is nothing but a giant COP OUT from real life!

Hendrix and Joplin are long dead from the result of their "tragic lives." Guthrie is a Republican. Not me, not now, not then. Some of us really believed we could change the world by doing, "Ask what you can do for your country, not what your country can do for you." Some of us are still doing just that! We are caring for the public in need. We have much work to do. There is no time to spend shouting in town meetings, "ME FIRST."

Pay attention to all the money mongrels who are touting, "I was at Woodstock and it changed my generation." Well you sure as heck did. And, aren't you proud? This is the third time since 1972 this country has tried to make health care a right and not a privilege. Only this time, I have a 6 year old diabetic and celiac grandchild dangling by the thread. My head reels ......what if her Daddy's job is cut? What in the world is going to happen to my Addy, Kaelyn and Maya?

I am getting tired. I also know, every day, all day, hungry children will come knocking on my door. A third of these children come from US Military families. Their GROSS income is on the Internet. Check it out. I am renewed every time I hear, "I love you, Nurse Lana." A child's smile, a mother's hug....I am renewed. Real life is really worth it.

Be True To Your School, Beach Boy's....

When I went to Candy Hearts yesterday to check out of the first day of school for Addy, I was taken back. The song which started to play was "Be True to Your School" by the Beach Boys. This song came out on their album Little Deuce Coop in 1963 and later on their album Endless Summer. The version which is on Candy Hearts is the second version. The melody was taken from the school song of Hawthorn High, (and University of Wisconsin) which was the Beach Boys California high school. Anyway...I was 15, and a freshman at Hueneme High School in Oxnard, California. The Beach Boys were a part of my life on a daily basis. I remember my little white radio in my room constantly blaring their songs. Each time I got in the car with my parents I said, "Please Daddy, put the radio on KACY 1520 AM." FM was really not part of the scene. Bob Eubanks was our Disk Jockey. Bob ended up being the game show host of the first Newly Wed game. Mmmm, just the TV show which my first husband, Richard,(a California surfer) and I were on in 1967. Yep, we were on TV. I was 19 and he was 21. We lost! Not only lost, but came in dead last! Maybe an omen?

Anyway, not only did I enjoy the pictures and the post of Addy's first day at her new school, but I enjoyed the nostalgic trip back to my first days in High School. My H.S. days, I must say, were completely innocent. They were filled with fun, good friends, and the California beach life! The Beach Boys wrote songs which depicted life exactly the way it was in the early '60s along the surfing coast of California. I am pleased to have been able to experience life at this time. Within a few years, Vietnam was in full swing, LSD hit the scene, and free love was REALLY free which I might add, had terrible consequences.

I married at 18 to escape being sent to college in Utah. I did not want to leave California! Which I might add, is absolutly the wrong reason to get married. Although, I must admit, this marriage produced four beautiful children and five (soon to be 6) fabulous grandchildren. Addy"s curly hair came from her Gpa. Wendy's red hair came from me.

Thanks Wendy for making me feel 15 again, if only for one day! Ouch...my arthritis is calling and I gotta go to work. Darn it...wish I could go the beach. My beach was Sliver Strand which is the leading picture.

Back to School for Addy....

Dear Lord Jesus take my hand,

I'm going to a foreign land.
One not ruled by king or preacher,
but someone with the name of teacher.
My mommy says that I'll have fun;
I'll sing and skip and play and run.
But I am scared 'cause I don't know
just what to do or where to go.
So please Lord Jesus hug me tight
and keep me in your loving sight.
For with you by my side today,
I know that I will be okay.

~Margaret Kennedy~

The leaves are falling, one by one.
Summer's over, School's begun.

I guess the cacti loose flowers in AZ??