Turbulent times

Living through these last four stressful/chaotic/anxiety-inducing years, I was eager to learn what my mom and Mickey experienced back then in the 60s. There was a war. JFK was assassinated. People were protesting and fighting for every kind of equality.

It was a maelstrom of historical activity. As young people, surely my mom or Mickey participated in some way.

When I asked, this was her answer:

“No, we didn’t do anything. We were in love with each other, in our own bubble.”

-Arlene

I can understand this – especially now, knowing more about what it means to be privileged. Being lucky enough to not have to fight for your rights (even though women were far from being treated as equal back then). It would be easy for me to throw my hands up in exasperation, frustrated or disappointed by this information. But I know that feeling of being in love, being completely consumed with someone and existing only in that world. Spending every moment you can in his or her orbit. Feeling like you don’t even want to come up for air. Forsaking time with anyone else because they are not “Your Person.”

Now I’m grateful that they had the chance to make their own bubble, before it burst.