My father was from a pioneering California Gold Rush family and my mother was a seamstress from Tennessee. Their marriage was not happily accepted by my father's relations.
When I was 14 my paternal grandmother paid for me to go to a San Francisco Symphony Youth Appreciation concert. Afterwards, waiting to be picked up, I remember being exhilarated by the music and instruments, starting a lifelong love of clasical music.
Meanwhile, over at the courthouse, there was a group of adults marching around, chanting and carrying signs. I walked over and was immediately swept up in the crowd.
Firetrucks then arrived and hosed us down the steps! It was only later that I found I had been part of the demonstration against the UnAmerican Activities procedures. It was a day I will never forget.