Soren the Decade of the 1980s

This is another part of my ongoing effort to leave a record of my life for my Great Grandson Soren decade by decade.

Your mother and father paid a visit---yesterday.
18 months old you made us giggle and laugh.
The country, the world in recession-depression?
We all need a Giggle and a Laugh..
Meeting Kate was my 80s highlight.
My belief in love was reborn.

Actor, President Ronald Reagan opened the decade.
He fired 11,000 Air Traffic Controllers over a strike threat.
The sleepy old Unions, just sighed and dismayed.
Union coffin got another nail. To bad for your Grandpa
He continues to believe in a Labor Movement.

We sent men off in a Shuttle to space.
At the same-time credit card mania took off,
For the worlds greatest party.
On credit off course. “We can have it all”

Yupp, that’s what they thought.
Most celebration’s,--- were down on Wall Street.
Billions in bonuses for money launderers.
Make nothing---just shuffle paper around.

Ronald Reagan, the movie star turned President.
Russian, Gorbachev and he end the Cold War.
(That was between the US. and Soviet Union.)

4500 Nuclear Bombs later. They’re still out there.
Chenobyl, nuclear power plant blows up.
Thousands radiated. Reminder
Nuclear can end life as we know it.
So can Global warming.

New wars, Iraq and Iran--Soviets, Afghanistan Israel--Palestinians.
Computers are everywhere. ”Globalization” The new world economy.
Grandpa thinks its Imperialism under a new rubric.
Cars get child safety seats bicycles get helmets.
Global warming nuclear weapons got nothing.

Berlin Wall between East--- West Germany comes down
Symbol of divided world. Not a failure of socialism,
It was never, never ever tried. Dictatorship is not, socialism.

Aids a new disease decimated the Village where we lived.
350 Bleeker Street Used to be a Village.
Now it’s home to Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Winston, Tiffany?
We left when the locals lucked out. Village my foot.

Aids infects 31 million world wide.
Lung cancer results from smoking. Cure, cut smoking.
Aids from sex. Try cutting that?
New diseases in bloom, like Global Warming
Maybe no cure? Maybe just to late?

Music reflects the time. Rocks in many forms.
Hard, Soft, Heavy Metal, Hip Hop, Country Rock
Punk Rock, Salsa Rock. Maybe rocks in our heads?
Even Klezmer is back. Whiney clarinet and all.

The 1980s will be remembered as the party age.
Soren I hope you wont be “Paying the Piper.”
Love your Great GrandpaBob.
.