Chalkboard Thoughts

    Rita Murray Buffington was born on August 18th, 1960. Her mother was Vera Louise Tryon. Her father was Ted Murry. (The name is spelled Murry on some documents and Murray on others.)    She had a younger brother named Andy Buchanan.    Rita went to Shakamak High School. She was in what was known as “Special Education” class in school then. Today, children with disabilities are taught mostly in a regular classroom with their peers. Those needing special instruction like speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy or extra instruction are taken out of their regular class for those extra educational needs. But, in the 1970’s students with special needs were all in one classroom together all day.    That was thought to be good for these students. It was thought that they’d be safer and protected from bullying. But, it limited their ability for normal socialization. It limited their ability to receive advanced in...

        Adam Spencer Katz was born on July 26th, 1970. His parents were Linda and Jay Katz.    Adam Katz was a Deadhead in 1989. He was a fan of the band The Grateful Dead.    The Dead had been touring and playing shows for a couple of decades by 1989. The general public probably had no idea who they were. But they regularly grossed more ticket sales for their concerts per year than any other act. They had a loyal group of fans. They also had a growing following of younger fans. There was a whole micro economy around following the tour and selling crafts, home made tee shirts, sandwiches, drinks, burritos, hair wraps, jewelry and whatnot. Every parking lot for each show or run of shows had a little area called Shakedown where most of the vendors gathered to sell their wares.   I first heard of them in 1989 when Touch of Grey came out. I went to my first show in 1992 in Indiana at Deer Creek.   There were ...