My Lifelong Childhood

"...to conceive extravagant hopes of the future, are the common dispositions of the greatest part of mankind."                               Edmund Burke (1729-1797) The rest of Spring, 1966 was beset with concerns for the future.  The U.S. was beginning to be mired down in an unpopular war in Viet Nam, the end of living in an idyllic college environment for me was fast approaching, I had no firm career plans and...I was in love.  I can't say I was particularly political at that time, nor did I have strong views about the war and its legitimacy having been "cloistered" for four years in a rural college community at the far northern reaches of our country.  The world seemed to be passing us by.  "Miranda rights" for suspects were set forth, the National Organization for Women was formed, Muhammad Ali declared himself a conscientious objector, color TV was rolled out on the three m...

THE BRIDGE GAME "...There be that can pack the cards and yet cannot play well..."                       Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) Sitting here in the February warmth of the Arizona Valley of the Sun, for a week's respite from the Rochester snowstorms, my memories are energized once again as I think back to 1966, 51 years ago, when I had my whole life ahead of me and many decisions to make.  It was the Senior year of college, Spring was approaching rapidly, and I had no plans or particular ambitions, only to know I was enamoured by this blonde young woman from Cherry Valley, New York! Senior Year! After that first sighting in Buck and Red’s Rendezvous, I still had not actually met her!  One day, I was sitting in the University Center with some friends and noted her across the room, playing bridge with some other young women.  I saw one of them get up and leave, probably to go to a class, when Suzanne...