Amy, Thank you for your detailed response. I'm honored that my essay brought up so many memories, ideas, and wonderings. It'd be fascinating to know what your grandmother experienced in the secret service.

It's also fascinating that your community was so adamant about keeping children safe, yet crime rates were so low. I read yesterday about someone who lived in a neighborhood where a serial killer was known to visit and the kids had code words and weren't allowed to play outside. The way violence infiltrates our childhood psyche must be a human thing.

Which leads me to your wondering about society, generational trauma, and spirituality. Wow! I'd be interested to read an essay by you exploring all of this.

Thank you for reading!