Then and Now

I was in high school. In the girls locker room after swimming class (UGH!) to be exact. As first it was a murmur through the locker room, and then it got quiet. The radio was on in Mrs. Pringle's office---and we heard it---the president had been shot. We stood there, staring at the radio in various stages of dress, not knowing what to do or think. The president had been shot.

I think we got out of school early. No one knew what to do. We walked home, and it was strangely quieter in the streets. At the 14th street party store, where we always stopped, the radio was on...the president was dead. He had been shot in Dallas. Even the store clerk just stared at the radio. No one knew what to do.

I am not sure how long it was. There were only 4 channels on the T.V. All of them only had "news" about the president being shot, and being dead. It seemed like forever, but I am sure it was only a couple of days that we watched, and watched, and watched....

I learned to knit that weekend. There was nothing else to do, and all four channels had the same "news" , and I think everything was closed, as no one knew what to do. There was yarn, needles , and a book in the basement, and I taught myself how to knit while the whole country sat and watched TV, not knowing what to do.

On Sunday (I am sure it was Sunday) there was more news--some one else shot a suspect. It was "live" and we were watching.....and no one knew what to do then either, as they could not take it back...it was "live" on all three American stations.

The funeral was on all day. Flags, motorcades, John-John's salute. Jackie in a black veil. Very sad. All day. All three stations. Then replayed.

This weekend I was knitting too, and I am a much better knitter now. TV is better too. 100's of channels--so there is always something on--well maybe--that someone would like to watch.

Today it was part of Gerald Ford's multiple day funeral--former President. Not shot. Just died a natural death at 93. He seemed to be a good man--everyone says so. An Eagle Scout. From Michigan. A 32- degree Mason, a dad, husband, veteran, former President of the United States.

Betty Ford looks much like Nancy Regan did when Ronald Regan, former President died, and his funeral was on TV. Hard to share this loss with a country. Hard to put on your public face at 80 something, and be televised while burying your husband--except they really aren't theirs to bury, as former Presidents still belong to the country watching on TV--even when they are former Presidents. Hard for the "children" , who are now adults with lives not usually televised.

My generation was the first to watch this--the funerals of Presidents--on television. It is part of who we are. It is part of what we expect. Every detail. Film at 11. Instant replays. Commentary. The visual images that define our generation. Walk on the Moon, dinner with the latest news from Nam, watch the space shuttle explode, see assassins live, see the plane hit the building, watch "shock and awe" "live".

Life was simpler before we could watch everything detail on TV.

Condolences to the Family of Gerald Ford. I am glad they had the chance to say goodbye before the televising began.