Coming of Age Politically

It was easy to become politically aware in the tumultuous times of the sixties and early seventies.

  After I went to the Democratic Caucus in Watertown on Saturday, I started thinking about when I first became politically aware. People become politically aware at different ages; some never do at all. I think the kids who become politically aware at a very young age are mainly those whose parents are involved in politics, whether holding office or working on campaigns. When I was a kid, the little girl next door was taught to say her name and address, which she always followed with "Precinct 2"; her dad was involved in local politics. I'd say I started becoming political aware somewhere around eighth grade. When I was in seventh grade all of the students in our school were given a survey to fill out, and though I don't remember the …

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Living in Watertown

I Remember When…

Some random memories of Watertown when I was growing up

In some locations in Watertown (as well as other places in the Greater Boston area), I would see a plaque or stone reading “George Washington slept here.” Watertown Square was the only place where I would hear a bell ring when it was safe to cross the street. Because the Perkins School was right down the street, there were a number of blind people in the area who needed this sound to know when it was safe to cross. In later years, other towns also added bells, or sometimes chirping sounds, to signal the right time to cross. Speaking of crossing the street, there were no walk/don't walk signs back then. Red and yellow lights were the signal for drivers to stop and pedestrians to cross the street. There was a huge rotary in Watertown Square…

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Marian Ferro

12:49 am on Sunday, September 18, 2011

Kathy, Thank you for your comment. You're right: it does describe an era. I'm not at all surprised that you can relate to much that I've described.   more ›