Choices, Changes & Friends

In the tumulous 1970's, four, twenty-five year old, female friends — BETH, CONNIE,
MICHAEL and APRIL — newly divorced with children — had no idea how their lives could
change so radially, or quickly. Prior somewhat ordinary, they became like 'sex & the city' for
Chicago suburhanite housewives, as willing participants in escapade sex, some drugs and too
much alcohol. The U.S. in quite an upheaval with protest marches of all types, but these young,
women were rarely vocal concerning politics, the Viet Nam war, or the inequality of the sexes.


They liked men, just not the ones they were married to, and not fairytale-dreamers, a little
romance would be nice. So, they experimented dating men, not acceptable before: tried some
drugs, drank too much, laughed a lot, and dance their cares away. With new male-attention,
they grew more brazen and confident, exploring the gamut of willing men for dalliance or
clandestine. Included were bikers and even a ménage a trois with a famous movie star for
Connie and Beth, which actually empowered them all. Anything was possible with freedom
and independence.


They took college classes, started a house-cleaning service, then thought about their changes, as
the friendships shifted, but support of each other remained. Dilemmas-decisions of children-
choices real careers and the «biggie' of remarriage came up, with a sense of wiry-stire and
sarcasm in situations to handle whatever hit them. Life separated them, when Beth and April
move out of State, then Beth overseas — still they reunite frequently. Definitely changed-
women years later, in many different ways. And yet, some things did not change, in how they
supported each other through thick and thin circumstances, which would have torn weaker-
women apart. At times, their history together was the foundation which kept them moving
forward through life's harshest realities. Still fiends, their changed lives encouraged many
women around them to do the same, sharing their memories and experiences regarding the
crazy-times of younger years.