1970s: Birthdays, studies and finding someone to love
While tensions are high at Thomas and Betty's, Arthur and his family are preparing for a birthday party. 1970 and 71 has been intense. The failure of Apollo 13 meant all current projects had to be reviewed and reexamined with upgraded emergency response protocols and extensive failure-mode simulations, while the fact that the Soviet launched the first space station, and then successfully docked with it a few months later, meant a double down on the attempts to create something similar. Over all of Edwards, focus shifted, from getting to the moon (now that they had) to being able to stay up in space for longer, and then land - rather than splash down - on reentry making them reusable. Projects such as M2-F3 and X-24A, focusing on what was called "lifting body technology" (being able to glide and land) meant Arthur spent his days pouring over wind tunnel data, telemetry, and prepping for post-flight debriefs with pilots.
At home, however, the girls were getting bigger, wilder and more independent and soon it was time for Cathy and Beth to age up into teenagers. Betty, who has completely embraced the new fashion of the decade spend her days saying that she cannot see how her girls are turning 15 when she gave birth to them just yesterday. "I am not old enough to have teenage girls!" she says as the house fills with guests for the big day.
"Tell me about it!" Betty and Grace chimes in. "I still haven't figured out how that happened."
But age up is what children do, and soon it's time for the girls to blow out their candles. First Beth:
Then Cathy:
Say hello to the teenage girls. The hotheaded, goofball Beth, most comfortable in jeans and not one for dressing up:
And outgoing, dance machine, Cathy who loves dressing up, preferably in really short skirts:
It's an exciting time to be a young girl in the US, but Beth and Cathy aren't politically interested yet to know just how exciting. As they are trying to figure out their roles in life in high school, other - older - women are fighting for their rights. On the streets through protests, in congress through legislation, and in the courts as Roe v. Wade is heard by the Supreme court. For Michael, at Britechester law, the case of Roe v. Wade makes ripples through his courses. What does the right to privacy extend to? Is abortion a right of the woman - or the violation of rights for the unborn child? As the case hits the supreme court it is closely followed by teachers and students alike and its passing is discussed widely among the student body.
For Michael this is a busy time. His final semester is starting, and if course work was intense before it is worse now. He spends most of his days either studying, preparing presentations or writing papers on the type writer in the dorm.
But living in a dorm also means parties, especially now that both men and women share a dorm. Often, especially at weekends, the common rooms are filled with people dancing and drinking and partying until late in the evening. Not that Michael minds per say, especially when he and Robin can find a dark corner somewhere.
The downside of living in dorms? The lack of private spaces where you can do more than make out. It's almost worse than being a teenager!
Not everyone is happy with Robin and Michael, however, though Michael has never once even flirted with Tina/Tanya? something that starts with a T and doesn't really know what her problem is and why she is staring at him as if she wanted to slap him.
For Barbara the news of Roe v. Wade is met with mixed feelings. While she on the one hand definitely believes in the rights of women to choose for herself, she can't help but to wonder what she herself would have done if abortion was legal when she got pregnant. Would she have been as strongly opposed to the idea if it had been easily accessible? If it had been safe and legal? And yet she cannot imagine a life that would have brought her greater joy than having Abby in her life.
Which might be why she reacts so strongly when Abby tells her that Sandra, one of their friends, was mean to her.
Sandra first tries to deny it.
But then doubles down on her behaviour, saying Abby deserved a telling off.
Barbara is not having it. She tells Sandra to leave her house. No one will tell her how to raise her daughter or tell her daughter what she can and can't do!
At least in that, the government now agrees as a law called something as unprecise as Title IX is passed as part of the Education Amendments, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal funding. For girls like Abby as well as Beth and Cathy, this means a lot in theory, but Beth, who is dying to play football it has very few real life applications. Theoretically, it means that the school can't prohibit her from trying out for the team, but as there is no girls team, it is unlikely that she'll be accepted.
Cathy doesn't understand the problem. "Just try out for the cheerleading team, like me!" she says, hurrying to the tryout mat and giving her all in a routine she's practised at home.
Beth grumbles. She isn't the least bit interested in cheerleading, what she wants is to join the football team. So while Cathy does her tryouts, Beth talks to the football players instead, trying to see the lay of the land. Unfortunately there are no tryouts for the football teams, and nor will there be open to girls just yet. "Next year," the gym teacher tells her, before asking her if she's ever considered track instead.
Then it's time for the coach of the cheerleaders to announce who is accepted this year. Cathy is among the last to be mentioned, but she does get a space on the team. She's delighted!
In Britechester, the law is debated heavily in classes, dorms and at Debate Club meetings. Robin is a staunch supporter of the new laws, and argues with both passion and intelligence. For Michael, it's a huge contrast to the letters Linda sends, talking of her job and how she can't wait until she doesn't have to work anymore, about her brother's new baby and how she can't wait until she has her own... Michael knows he should say something, write something, but every time he sits down to write to her something else comes up. The homework that needs to be done, the paper he needs to write... and so time passes and he says nothing and then Robin is there and Linda is the last person he thinks of.
So when Robin suggest that they'll find a place together after university, it's so easy to say yes.
At home, however, the girls were getting bigger, wilder and more independent and soon it was time for Cathy and Beth to age up into teenagers. Betty, who has completely embraced the new fashion of the decade spend her days saying that she cannot see how her girls are turning 15 when she gave birth to them just yesterday. "I am not old enough to have teenage girls!" she says as the house fills with guests for the big day.
"Tell me about it!" Betty and Grace chimes in. "I still haven't figured out how that happened."
But age up is what children do, and soon it's time for the girls to blow out their candles. First Beth:
Then Cathy:
Say hello to the teenage girls. The hotheaded, goofball Beth, most comfortable in jeans and not one for dressing up:
And outgoing, dance machine, Cathy who loves dressing up, preferably in really short skirts:
It's an exciting time to be a young girl in the US, but Beth and Cathy aren't politically interested yet to know just how exciting. As they are trying to figure out their roles in life in high school, other - older - women are fighting for their rights. On the streets through protests, in congress through legislation, and in the courts as Roe v. Wade is heard by the Supreme court. For Michael, at Britechester law, the case of Roe v. Wade makes ripples through his courses. What does the right to privacy extend to? Is abortion a right of the woman - or the violation of rights for the unborn child? As the case hits the supreme court it is closely followed by teachers and students alike and its passing is discussed widely among the student body.
For Michael this is a busy time. His final semester is starting, and if course work was intense before it is worse now. He spends most of his days either studying, preparing presentations or writing papers on the type writer in the dorm.
But living in a dorm also means parties, especially now that both men and women share a dorm. Often, especially at weekends, the common rooms are filled with people dancing and drinking and partying until late in the evening. Not that Michael minds per say, especially when he and Robin can find a dark corner somewhere.
The downside of living in dorms? The lack of private spaces where you can do more than make out. It's almost worse than being a teenager!
Not everyone is happy with Robin and Michael, however, though Michael has never once even flirted with Tina/Tanya? something that starts with a T and doesn't really know what her problem is and why she is staring at him as if she wanted to slap him.
For Barbara the news of Roe v. Wade is met with mixed feelings. While she on the one hand definitely believes in the rights of women to choose for herself, she can't help but to wonder what she herself would have done if abortion was legal when she got pregnant. Would she have been as strongly opposed to the idea if it had been easily accessible? If it had been safe and legal? And yet she cannot imagine a life that would have brought her greater joy than having Abby in her life.
Which might be why she reacts so strongly when Abby tells her that Sandra, one of their friends, was mean to her.
Sandra first tries to deny it.
But then doubles down on her behaviour, saying Abby deserved a telling off.
Barbara is not having it. She tells Sandra to leave her house. No one will tell her how to raise her daughter or tell her daughter what she can and can't do!
At least in that, the government now agrees as a law called something as unprecise as Title IX is passed as part of the Education Amendments, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal funding. For girls like Abby as well as Beth and Cathy, this means a lot in theory, but Beth, who is dying to play football it has very few real life applications. Theoretically, it means that the school can't prohibit her from trying out for the team, but as there is no girls team, it is unlikely that she'll be accepted.
Cathy doesn't understand the problem. "Just try out for the cheerleading team, like me!" she says, hurrying to the tryout mat and giving her all in a routine she's practised at home.
Beth grumbles. She isn't the least bit interested in cheerleading, what she wants is to join the football team. So while Cathy does her tryouts, Beth talks to the football players instead, trying to see the lay of the land. Unfortunately there are no tryouts for the football teams, and nor will there be open to girls just yet. "Next year," the gym teacher tells her, before asking her if she's ever considered track instead.
Then it's time for the coach of the cheerleaders to announce who is accepted this year. Cathy is among the last to be mentioned, but she does get a space on the team. She's delighted!
In Britechester, the law is debated heavily in classes, dorms and at Debate Club meetings. Robin is a staunch supporter of the new laws, and argues with both passion and intelligence. For Michael, it's a huge contrast to the letters Linda sends, talking of her job and how she can't wait until she doesn't have to work anymore, about her brother's new baby and how she can't wait until she has her own... Michael knows he should say something, write something, but every time he sits down to write to her something else comes up. The homework that needs to be done, the paper he needs to write... and so time passes and he says nothing and then Robin is there and Linda is the last person he thinks of.
So when Robin suggest that they'll find a place together after university, it's so easy to say yes.
And when Michael finds out that there is a room to let (even for just a few nights) above the coffeeshop at Darkwing house, it's easy to suggest to Robin that they spend the weekend there together.
The room itself is simple but clean and homey. Usually it's rented out to students during the semester, but when there is no student living there it's available for more short time rent as well. Michael and Robin doesn't really care what the room is like however, as they are in each others arms the moment they are through the door.
After, when they are lying next to each other, the pillow talk feels so natural and easy. Looking into her eyes, it's easy for Micheal to imagine doing that for the rest of his life. This night, Linda is very far from his mind.
But a weekend is only a weekend, and Michael really can't focus on anything but classes. His essay is nearly finished.
And for his final course in federal law, he holds a presentation about the legal ramifications of the civil rights movement. Two of the girls in class spend most of the presentation talking to each other, some look bored, but overall, Michael is pleased. He thinks he got a good grade out of it.
After, when they are lying next to each other, the pillow talk feels so natural and easy. Looking into her eyes, it's easy for Micheal to imagine doing that for the rest of his life. This night, Linda is very far from his mind.
But a weekend is only a weekend, and Michael really can't focus on anything but classes. His essay is nearly finished.
And for his final course in federal law, he holds a presentation about the legal ramifications of the civil rights movement. Two of the girls in class spend most of the presentation talking to each other, some look bored, but overall, Michael is pleased. He thinks he got a good grade out of it.
With only a few days left they now have an exam to worry about, and then - finally - they can graduate. Michael has his heart set on being a lawyer. Robin on becoming a judge. "Not that I don't think you'd be an excellent judge, but there aren't that many women who are," Michael says diplomatically.
"Shirley Hufstedler, Sarah T. Hughes, Constance Baker Motley..." Robin rattles off.
"I'm just saying it will be hard."
"I don't mind hard. I'll show everyone what I'm made of. You'll see."
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