The 1950s in America was a decade made for childhood. Suburbs, offering grassy yards, trees for climbing, and woods for exploring, were being built on the fringe of cities. Libraries, schools, stores, and the streetcar line to town were all a short walk away. Television, a new phenomenon with limited programming and often poor reception, was used for viewing only selected, favorite programs. A childs play still called for creativity, make-believe games, and little parental intervention. Homes were not air-conditioned and in summer time the neighborhood at large became a childs playground with nooks, crannies to explore and forts to be built in out of the way places. In what was perceived as a safer time, children were often outside, summer and winter, playing on their own or with other neighborhood children when they were not in school. Games were usually invented and often spontaneous. Make a Lot of Noise and Dont Go on the Porch recalls these times from the perspective of an only child growing up with a myriad of older relatives, family, and honorary family in a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. In a household where conversation was ongoing and dinner time was an event to be anticipated, a family of many and varied personalities live out their lives sixty years ago.
Travel into ones past is often a perilous journey to undertake, even if it is only a journey of the mind, but the past is a country, which always offers rich exploration, especially from the unique perspective of age. While nostalgia is usually part of this mental journey, a return in memory to our long ago homes and neighborhoods, friendships, and experiences can inform and enrich the present. As the past is reflected upon, it becomes increasingly evident how often and consistently past choices impact life in the present. In the book, Early Evening, Gail Johnston uses poetry, much of it written many years ago, and personal essays, all written recently, to reflect on the juxtaposition of these time periods and the implications they have for the paths in life that have been chosen.
After surviving two failed marriages, Sylvia is a recently divorced mother living in the Illinois wilderness struggling to raise two teenagers while trying to mend the emotional scars meted out by domestic violence.
This charming collection of writings celebrates not only the long-awaited magical moment of birth but also the profound experience of pregnancy itself. By turns lyrical, instructive, and insightful, these thoughts--from notables such as Robin Williams, Alice Hoffman, and Sophia Loren--will inspire and guide parents-to-be.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.