I hit my goal for today. Just a tiny glimpse into the next chapter:

The 1960s and the Back Parlor

Out of the entirety of her life, Mary Twisp loved the nineteen sixties the most. She had just tripped into her forties, was still deeply in love with her husband William, and was lucky enough to be living in a time where love and peace were at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Her parents didn’t understand and had no desire to indulge in the practices of the time but allowed their child to explore and immerse herself in what made her happy. Their house had been built specifically with her happiness in mind and who were they to spoil it? Seeing Mary laugh and full of joy was enough.

And Mary did immerse herself. The music of the time appealed to her most and she was often found in the back parlor, listening to Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and The Doors. She was never a woman to stylize herself after other popular figures of the time. But she did feel an affinity for those bucking the norm and striving to be more than what society expected. William wasn’t nearly as free but loved to see the light shining in his wife’s eyes when she spoke of all the decedent achievements of those surely destined to be part of history.

A throwback to the turn of the century, the Twisp house sported a fabulous back parlor. In the 1960s, back parlors were definitely a thing of the past but William and Mary loved having a room dedicated to music, deep conversations, and the occasional bit of fun with games. They often invited neighbors and occasionally the odd celebrity. The house seemed to welcome visitors with such warmth, something that radiated from Mary to the point of almost being visual.

Mary knew she had been born for this house. True, her parents had built the house with the love of their impending child in their minds. But, as the house was completed, each and every room seemed to be imbued with the fervent wish of life-long joy for their new child. As it was built, the rooms each took on a barely sensed affinity for the girl about to be presented to the world. It wasn’t something that anyone could put a finger on or point out, exactly. After the birth of Mary and as one went throughout the building, each room gave off an aura that seemed to bend and engulf the tiny baby. The house recognized Mary and Mary recognized the house.

The sixties brought about so much cultural and social change, it was difficult to keep up. Mary had her pulse on just about everything happening and went out of her way to keep her beloved William in the loop. He was happy to be along for the ride but, for the most part, felt like someone hanging on to the tails of a high flying kite. William was most surprised when his wife was able to invite the occasional society bigwig.

William came from a family with enough money to make him comfortable but he never quite felt quite right not working. Once an adult and after his college education, William worked as a librarian. It wasn’t a glamorous job nor was it one often filled by men at the time. Still, it gave him an immense sense of accomplishment and allowed him to indulge in his love of literature.

Mary and William used the extra bit of income to finance somewhat elaborate parties in their back parlor. Very few guests were invited as the couple liked to keep things intimate and private. But for those few who were privy to the Twisp household parties, being invited was truly memorable.