In 1970 you could get contraceptives, the modern one in pill form, if you had a doctor willing to prescribe them. If you were married at that time both you and your husband had to agree to the use of oral contraceptives. But if you were an un married 19 year old your chances were much more risky. I was 19 in 1970. I was sexually active. I was ignorant and made many bad decisions. But one decision that I made in concert with my live-in boyfriend was that I should try and get contraceptives.…

In a world where popular culture permeates everything from grocery stores to insurance advertising to funeral arrangements, it’s refreshing that ‘classic’ ideologies persist.  Consider if you will classical music.  We can all hum a few notes from Beethoven and who isn’t familiar with The Nutcracker Suite.  Nothing is more classic than classical music – right?  Yet our popular culture also allows for classic stars to come shining through.  When Adele swept the Grammy awards last night no one…

When my parents retired (some 38 years ago), so began their, 6 times per year, trips to Las Vegas.  Returning home with an extra $1,500 to $5k became almost as routine.  They were known for finding a machine and sticking with it for hours; no matter the outcome.  Upon returning home, a family dinner was the setting to reveal all the details of their wonderful time and adventures in Vegas. 

Their most famous trip, however, occurred on my dad’s 85^th birthday.  My…

Today's visit to the nursing where my Mother is exiled until her end time comes, was punctuated by 60's oldies playing in the background of the day room.  Here eleven souls in varying degrees of departing this plane of reality sat with food trays, attempting to eat, talking to vegetables like babies they once birthed, gagging, coughing to remove food from permanently constricted throats, lips quivering for the bygone flavor of youth.  Motown hits flood the space like obscene punctuation…