No Regrets for Coming of Age in the 1960's

No Regrets for Coming of Age in the 1960's

The 1960's have been recorded as turbulent but as a preteen and teenager during this decade most memory are happy.  When the decade changed, I would be 12 years old. My 6th grade teacher, Miss Taylor told my class that in 40 years we would witness a new century. The class explained in unison, "We will be too old to enjoy the celebration."

Fortunately, I was not too old to enjoy fireworks over Boston Harbor on January 1, 2000. The future was not always in the forefront on my mind during the 1960's or at least not in the early years of the decade. As a baby boomer, children of my own age were plentiful and my childhood neighborhood was full of families with at least three children in each house.  Summer days were full of playtime with my neighbors. 

As I grew into a teenager, my friends were from church and school when I could travel on foot or bus to be with them. My home town was unique that it was a peninsula and a small town next to a metropolitan city. Once we were fourteen, my friends would travel by bus then subway into Boston. We would people watch on Boston Common, window shop on all the large downtown stores, i.e. Jordan Marsh, Filene's, Kennedy's, R. H. White.  On occasion, we would use our babysitting money to have our tea leaves read. We wished to know when we would marry and how many children we would have.

The girls of my age were still urged to go to college to meet your husband or to become a teacher or a nurse. Boys were always on our minds if not a real "boyfriend" then perhaps a teen idol or one of the Beatles. The teenage girl of the 1960's favorite past time was talking on the phone, playing records and listening to their transistor radio. In Winthrop, our favorite after school gathering place was Ham's. Ham's was a luncheonette with a soda fountain which was also a candy store. So many happy memories with my friends and a few boys. 

In the summer, our favorite gathering place would be beach wall between the second and third jetty. On an given day, I would be able to find at least one of my best friend or any member of our clique at the beach. Boys would cruise by in their cars to say hello, flirt and even make arrangements for that night's date. Summer in a beach community is fun and exciting especially for a teenager and during a time where our numbers were so numerous.

Yes, no regrets for being young in the 1960's!