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.

Alice Parker

Books