Earliest Memories of the World Outside (was Forcing Kids To Watch History Made)

[Amy Z <lupinesque@yahoo.com>]

Elkins wrote:

> > The moon landing is the earliest of my memories that has anything
> > to do with the world outside the nursery.  

I always thought I remembered this, but as I was a year old, I'm sure 
I don't.  Must've been on tape.

The earliest memory I have of the world of news was Watergate.  
Nothing whatsoever about Vietnam, and how could I have watched 
Watergate reports without seeing anything about the war?  Maybe my 
parents had the good sense to send me out of the room (do they give 
warnings anymore for gruesome news stories?  I remember the 
newscasters warning parents before showing pictures of Jonestown).

Mind you, I didn't understand what Watergate *was.*  I thought it 
sounded quite exciting--I pictured a great seawall with the ocean 
lashing it--but I asked my mom what it was and she said "a hotel."  
Yawn.  I do recall thinking that John Chancellor was Nixon.  After 
all, his was the face I saw every night, and Nixon Nixon Nixon was 
the name I heard.  I regret to this day that I didn't write to 
Chancellor telling him this before he died.  He'd probably have been 
amused.

Amy Z