1960s: A man in space means no vacation
Kennedy's first months in term doesn't start off too well. Instead, shockwaves are sent through the US as the Soviet Union is the first country in the world to put a man in space, then just a few days later, the US is humiliated in the Bay of Pigs. For Arthur, it's the news about Yuri Gagarin being the first man in space that is reverberating through NASA and occupies all of his thought and attention. They just got the X15 up and flying properly, and now the Soviets already had a man in space. How can that be?
"Why aren't we better than they are?" Bikle yells at the team the day after the news has broken. "We've got the best minds in the world, some of them in this very room, and yet they beat us to it. AGAIN!"
It's a motivating factor for all of them to work harder, longer, more. They cannot afford another set back like this. The US needs a man in space, and soon. If he ever thought of asking for a leave for his honeymoon, he can forget about it now. He is needed at work, and holidays can wait.
For the rest of the family, Bay of Pigs seems to be the more serious incident. They follow the news on TV and worry what the fall out could be. For Anna, ready to turn 70, it's worrisome to see the US interfering in another country like that. Johnny, on the other hand, mostly worry about blowback if the Soviets decide to intervene, and make sure to reinforce their bomb shelter. It makes it a little smaller, but safer. Step by step, he goes over what he has in there to make it last for longer, not just during an attack. Food, water, a toilet, means of warmth and a way to cook food, a radio...
But as worried as everyone is, life still goes on as usually. At Thomas and Betty's, Susan has just had the chicken pox, and Thomas has to worry about treating her illness rather than world events. Feeling better, but a bit tired, she helps mum by teaching her baby brother to build towers while being home from school.
And in San Sequoia, it's time for Barbara and Dough to turn 30. Their birthdays are so close together that they decide on one celebrations, inviting their friends from the art center and a chosen few of the family. Barbara skips inviting her parents, as they are far too conservative and will not hold off on criticism. To be fair a part of the decision has to do with a fear that they might not even come if she invited them. They've never once been to the house on the hill, taking the stand that going would mean supporting Barbaras immoral way of life.
She does invite Anna, who has always supported her doing whatever she want, and Alice and Cora, who she sees as role models for their refusal to live according to anyone else's rules than their own. Her siblings are also invited, though Hazel and Warren stay at home. Best of all, however, is that Norm is coming all the way from Louisiana to see them, bringing his wife Theresa whom they have never met. She seems a bit overwhelmed by the crowd, and the political discussions that follow from the friends they have, but gets along with everyone. It seems it's David that has the hardest time to swallow the politics, the view that the US is just another imperialistic country that should leave places like Cuba alone.
When the family leaves, the rest of them heads over to the art center to continue the party there, with drinks, dancing, and bubble blowing. This is where they are truly free, where they can say what they want, argue when they have different opinions, and make up when the smoke relaxes them.
And it doesn't take long before the family is gathering again. This is the season of birthdays, Barbara, Anna, Cathy and Beth all have their birthdays close together, so after just a few days everyone is in the car again, heading to Chestnut Ridge and Red Roan Ranch.
Anna has prepared a cake, but it's Johnny who takes care of the grill as the guests arrives. As usual when Anna arranges anything, it's casual and low key and held outdoors in the fresh air with meat and produce produced on the farm itself.
But even as everyone is having fun, more serious events are taking place elsewhere. In Berlin, a wall is going up, and the news report on the new developments almost immediately. Anna is worried, and so are many of the others. "But it won't affect our boys, will it?" Josephine asks Nash. "Not Frank's boy?" "Not yet, no," Anna replies to her sister. "Not unless we give a response, and I doubt we will. No this thing only matters to the people who live there."
The next morning the news paper headlines are dominated with this new turn of events. But as shocking as the news is, it still scares people less than the Bay of Pigs. This is a European affair, far away and the US has nothing to do with it and so it's easy to forget before it's time for Arthur and Audie to arrange the girls' birthday party.
"Why aren't we better than they are?" Bikle yells at the team the day after the news has broken. "We've got the best minds in the world, some of them in this very room, and yet they beat us to it. AGAIN!"
It's a motivating factor for all of them to work harder, longer, more. They cannot afford another set back like this. The US needs a man in space, and soon. If he ever thought of asking for a leave for his honeymoon, he can forget about it now. He is needed at work, and holidays can wait.
For the rest of the family, Bay of Pigs seems to be the more serious incident. They follow the news on TV and worry what the fall out could be. For Anna, ready to turn 70, it's worrisome to see the US interfering in another country like that. Johnny, on the other hand, mostly worry about blowback if the Soviets decide to intervene, and make sure to reinforce their bomb shelter. It makes it a little smaller, but safer. Step by step, he goes over what he has in there to make it last for longer, not just during an attack. Food, water, a toilet, means of warmth and a way to cook food, a radio...
But as worried as everyone is, life still goes on as usually. At Thomas and Betty's, Susan has just had the chicken pox, and Thomas has to worry about treating her illness rather than world events. Feeling better, but a bit tired, she helps mum by teaching her baby brother to build towers while being home from school.
And in San Sequoia, it's time for Barbara and Dough to turn 30. Their birthdays are so close together that they decide on one celebrations, inviting their friends from the art center and a chosen few of the family. Barbara skips inviting her parents, as they are far too conservative and will not hold off on criticism. To be fair a part of the decision has to do with a fear that they might not even come if she invited them. They've never once been to the house on the hill, taking the stand that going would mean supporting Barbaras immoral way of life.
She does invite Anna, who has always supported her doing whatever she want, and Alice and Cora, who she sees as role models for their refusal to live according to anyone else's rules than their own. Her siblings are also invited, though Hazel and Warren stay at home. Best of all, however, is that Norm is coming all the way from Louisiana to see them, bringing his wife Theresa whom they have never met. She seems a bit overwhelmed by the crowd, and the political discussions that follow from the friends they have, but gets along with everyone. It seems it's David that has the hardest time to swallow the politics, the view that the US is just another imperialistic country that should leave places like Cuba alone.
When the family leaves, the rest of them heads over to the art center to continue the party there, with drinks, dancing, and bubble blowing. This is where they are truly free, where they can say what they want, argue when they have different opinions, and make up when the smoke relaxes them.
And it doesn't take long before the family is gathering again. This is the season of birthdays, Barbara, Anna, Cathy and Beth all have their birthdays close together, so after just a few days everyone is in the car again, heading to Chestnut Ridge and Red Roan Ranch.
Anna has prepared a cake, but it's Johnny who takes care of the grill as the guests arrives. As usual when Anna arranges anything, it's casual and low key and held outdoors in the fresh air with meat and produce produced on the farm itself.
But even as everyone is having fun, more serious events are taking place elsewhere. In Berlin, a wall is going up, and the news report on the new developments almost immediately. Anna is worried, and so are many of the others. "But it won't affect our boys, will it?" Josephine asks Nash. "Not Frank's boy?" "Not yet, no," Anna replies to her sister. "Not unless we give a response, and I doubt we will. No this thing only matters to the people who live there."
The next morning the news paper headlines are dominated with this new turn of events. But as shocking as the news is, it still scares people less than the Bay of Pigs. This is a European affair, far away and the US has nothing to do with it and so it's easy to forget before it's time for Arthur and Audie to arrange the girls' birthday party.
As Audie's parents aren't able to make it, living far away from them on the other side of the country, Arthur and Audie has decided to focus on inviting children. A few are children from Strangerville, children of collegues of Arthurs, but he's also invited Thomas, Betty and their Children along, to be a few more adults to the children present.
The kids are let out into the garden to play where a brand new slip-and-slide released to the public just that summer has been set up. Along with other kids toys, cake and other sweets, it's guaranteed to make kids very happy and Arthur and Audie very exhausted.
As the over-excited girls are sent to bed in their newly decorated girls' room, Arthur and Audie sinks down in front of the TV where they have to fight to stay awake before they can finally head to bed. It's been a good day for the girls, but Audie and Arthur are both happy it's only once a year.
The kids are let out into the garden to play where a brand new slip-and-slide released to the public just that summer has been set up. Along with other kids toys, cake and other sweets, it's guaranteed to make kids very happy and Arthur and Audie very exhausted.
As the over-excited girls are sent to bed in their newly decorated girls' room, Arthur and Audie sinks down in front of the TV where they have to fight to stay awake before they can finally head to bed. It's been a good day for the girls, but Audie and Arthur are both happy it's only once a year.
Comments
Post a Comment