Happy Birthday!!!

Guess what happened forty-five years ago today?  The Watts section of Los Angeles exploded into violence after a white California Highway Patrol officer pulled over a black man. A scuffle ensues, and Frye, his mother and brother are arrested in front of a restive crowd. Thirty-four people died in what came to be known as the Watts Riots.

The riot began, spurred on by residents of Watts who were embittered after years of economic and political isolation. The rioters eventually ranged over a 50-square-mile area of South Central Los Angeles, looting stores, thousands of fire settings, torching buildings, and beating whites as snipers fired at police and firefighters. Finally, with the assistance of thousands of National Guardsmen, order was restored on August 16. Property damage: $40 million and this was in 1965 dollars...Wow!!Racial discrimination and housing inequities were the cause, a commission found.

And it is my birthday.  I guess I was curious about what was happening!!!  I will also never forget when my birthday is because it is a significant date where I live.  I even have a Quantum Leap episode with my birth date on it!!!

Yes, today is my birthday.  I am feeling old and thinking about my life up to this point.  There are two things that I wish I would have done by now.  The first is married earlier to have more years with my husband.  But, timing is timing and I love the time that we have now and to come and what has past.  The second is that I would have completed my doctorate in clinical psychology, but again I was not ready yet.  I will be in my fifties when I do so.  I haven't even started anything like taking the dreaded GRE.  But, despite everthing, I have a great life. Oh, and no candles pleeeeeeeeese...I will start an out of control fire!!!!

All I want is chocolate cake!!! Oh, and, of course, time with my husband and a nice dinner. But, every birthday must have chocolate cake and a card.  After my husband working 12- 16 hour days for the last 21 days without a break, he surprised me with taking today off.  This is, dispite, what is going on at work.  He wants the day to be about me...he made me cry...how sweet.