A Fifty Year Anniversary and Being Thankful

It's strange to realize it's been 50 years since the Summer of Love. So much was happening.  It was in the summer of 1967 that I was turned on to rock and roll. How could one not be? The music was phenomenal! The Doors with Light My Fire, Sgt. Peppers and All You Need is Love by The Beatles, If You're Going to San Francisco by Scott McKenzie (whom I would meet two years later), the Monterey Pop Festival with Janis, Jimi, The Who, The Mamas and Papas and Otis Redding - to name a few.

And where was I? What was I doing? I had the great good fortune of spending the summer with a family in Arlington, VA. I raised my own money to make the trip with matching funds coming from my parents and grandmother. It took a whole year to plan, save, and prepare. That summer I also traveled to Newark, NJ to visit and friend, and New York City to visit my sister, Erva, who was a student at NYU.

I took a lot of pictures. If you don't think the Clean Air Act had any affect, all you have to do is look at these pictures of Washington, DC and New York City to learn the truth.

The Capitol Building from the Washington Monument

The White House from the Washington Monument

The Lincoln Memorial from the Washington Monument

The Lincoln Memorial

 The Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial

My sister, Erva, in front of the Lincoln Center, NYC

Erva at the top of the Empire State Building

 

Me at the top of the Empire State Building

 Macy's and Gimbels from the Empire State Building

 From the Empire State Building

 Manhattan from the Staten Island Ferry 

 The Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry

 Me on my last day.

I experienced so many wonderful things: Shakespeare on The Mall, being part of an "art" film, 4th of July fireworks over DC, walking around Greenwich Village, having a non-alcoholic drink at Cafe Wha?, seeing an off Broadway play about Jelly Roll Morton...

You wouldn't know from this post there was turmoil and tension happening all over the US. San Francisco was a kind of counter balance to what was happening elsewhere in the US. Just during the months of June, July, and August there were race riots in Tampa, Buffalo, Newark, Minneapolis, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Washington DC.

The Six Days War occurred at the beginning of June. At the end of August the American Nazi Party leader, George Lincoln Rockwell was killed in Arlington, VA.

 Yes, these times are very trying, but I have to believe there are young people out there who have experienced something good and wonderful this summer. We survived the '60s, we can survive these times too.

Being Thankful

Today I'm thankful Hurricane Harvey didn't dump a lot of rain on us. I know others in Texas are suffering. But this is the extent of our "damage."

What are you thankful for? Were you around for the Summer of Love? If so, share a memory! If not, would you have liked to have experienced it?

Labor Day! Question of the Month, Being Thankful

That goes for us writers as well. We need a break too. Some people might not think writing is work, 

but I say nuts to them! We know differently. We know the literal and figurative blood, sweat, and 

tears that goes into producing any piece of writing. So...

Give yourself permission to take a break! Here are some suggestions of what to do.

Take a stroll by a river, 

or walk among some trees.

Relax at your favorite beach, lake, or river.

Chillax in a hammock. 

Build some cairns.

Go sailing. (Yes that's me at the tiller, with my childhood best friend Jay.)

Have fun!


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I've joined this monthly bloghop because answering thoughtful/challenging/interesting questions is one way to expand one's mind and to share a little bit about myself. Hosted by Michael D'Agostino at A Life Examined, the question this month is: 

What kind of music best speaks to you?

Not fair! All kinds of music speaks to me, depending on my mood.

Classical, Jazz (in it's various styles), New Age,  Rock (in it's various styles) ... If you have the time, here are a few samplings from each.

One of my favorite pieces of  Classical.

When the band, particularly Robert Plant, exuded sexuality.


The First Lady of Song, whose ability to scat put all "modern" singers to shame.



For rest a relaxation there's nothing like Tibetan Bowls, perfect background music for Labor Day.

Being Thankful

So what am thankful for today? Nature in all its varied forms. Music in all its varied forms.
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That are you thankful for? Doing anything special today? Does a particular kind of music speak to you?

Announcing, ONE STOP FOR WRITERS!

Every once in a while, something comes along that changes things for the better.

And in the world of writers, this is especially welcoming, because we all know just how much sweat, courage and persistence it takes to write a book and then release it into the world. Today I'm pointing you toward a new website which I hope will help writers brainstorm stronger characters, craft deeper, more compelling plots, and teach us how to be more effective with our description so we draw readers in. One Stop For Writers is a collaboration between Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman, authors of The Emotion Thesaurus, and Lee Powell, creator of Scrivener for Windows. This powerhouse online library is filled with one-of-a-kind descriptive thesaurus collections, tools, tutorials and much more, all geared to provide the resources you need to strengthen your prose and write more efficiently.

Want to check out One Stop For Writers?

Hop on over to Writers Helping Writers for their Launch Week festivities (October 7-14th)! If you know Angela, Lee, and Becca already, you probably can guess there will be some great prizes, and probably a bit of paying-it-forward too.

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To celebrate eight (8!) years of blogging, I'm offering up a bloghop I know every writer dreams of.

The Listing Hop!

This fest will be so easy and fun it should probably be a crime.

The rules are simple. All you have to do is sign up in the linky thingy below, grab the banner, and make a list. I suggest you keep your list to between 5 and 25 items long. We'll visit each other on October 26th.

You can list whatever you feel like (except for adult type content). That's it! Of course, if you'd like to help spread the word, I'm not going to fuss at you. If you really NEED help (PULL-EASE!) on what to list, go HERE for a list of ideas.

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Being Thankful

Today I'm thankful for MUSIC.

And I'm offering up two pieces by a group called, FLASH, who just pre-date YES.

Hmmm. One wonders who copied whom.

First up: Children of the Universe (lyrics below.)

Children of the universe
as much as sky and seaway
you have a right to be here

Keep your soul in company
with graceful spirit 'round you
be alive with sympathy
La ouv ya ouv ya la ouv ya ouv ya la
ouv ya ouv ya la ouv ya ouv ya la oh

All the worldly prophets say
believe in a guardian angel
Banish thoughts of misery

Be prepared to live your life
with little on your table
save your hunger for your soul
La ouv ya ouv ya la ouv ya ouv ya la
ouv ya ouv ya la ouv ya ouv ya la oh

When the crimson river light of dawn surprises you
awaken now you're other self
when the darkess demos call your name out loud and clear
it must be known you cannot hear

Love the girl and feel the world
get a little warmer
feel the touch of ecstasy

Maybe some day we will learn
as much as all we all need to know
and you can be a child again

when the princess fell to sleep and danger points at sake
and you say free your darkness, fear
when the crimson river light of dark surprises you
awaken now you're other self

Children of the universe
as much as sky and seaway
you have a right to be here

Keep your soul incompany
with graceful spirit 'round you
be alive with sympathy
La ouv ya ouv ya la ouv ya ouv ya la
ouv ya ouv ya la ouv ya ouv ya la oh

And to leave you in a more peaceful state: The Time it Takes.



Have you visited Angela and Becca's new website offering? What are you thankful for today? Have you signed up for my celebration bloghop?