His name is/was Ken. We were in the Class of '70 in a small college. I haven't seen him since graduation [View all]

and yesterday I got to thinking about him. He seemed smarter than me. The kind of guy you looked up to for answers and understanding. School would close on May 6, a couple of days after the Kent State Massacre. The college president was worried that riots would break out so he issued a proclamation that there would be no more formal classes. You could accept your posted grade for the courses you took or you could opt to take the final exam in the hope your grade would improve.

My grade average was 3.9 or something close so there was no purpose to taking any exams. I went home. I guess Ken did the same.

He came to my mind this morning on a radio program where a polling company published the results of a pole that asked if you were confident about the future and your ability to make your way in what the future might bring, The optimists have declined over the years this pole has been conducted.

That brings me to Ken. He was 22. Maybe 23. And he had a vasectomy before he graduated. He didn't want to bring a child into the world, given the directions the world was going. At that time, "ecology" was one of two new focal points of the media and young people. 1970 was the April of the first Earth Day. The other concern was Viet Nam. Both showed a world heading down the shitter, Imagine if the youth of the 60's and 70's had a trip to the future to see Bush II or the Anal Fistula now occupying the White House..

Anyway - how this relates to me. I regret having children. I got two. They will probably be alright. They got inexpensive houses and jobs to pay for the houses.

It's the grandkids that I worry about. One graduated last year, from a second tier university at a cost of about $200k. His girl friend (whom I really like) graduated from the same college.They plan to spend this winter working at a ski resort. After that, they don't know.

The other 7 grandkids ---I don't know. They are all smart -creative and not afraid of physical or intellectiual hard work. But where will they find the place to use talents they have or will develop?

And it's beyond the question of if they will be able to afford a house - the American Dream. Will they even be able to afford e square, health care and a rented roof over their heads.



After 56 years, I think Ken was right.