Editor’s Note

Posted on February 28, 2015 by bob in EdNote

Many of us who’ve lived in Montgomery for more than 50 years remember the Selma to Montgomery march, some as foot soldiers, others in a more tangential way. I remember the marchers coming to town — but not for any laudable reason, I hasten to add. At 12, the march seemed distant to me as I pondered more “pressing” personal issues that spring: crafting my first science project, avoiding the mile in P.E. class, fretting over whether I’d ever see the Beatles in concert. Barely out of elementary school, issues of great social concern escaped me.

What I learned about the march came from news reports or the fact that our family’s restaurant was situated directly on the march route. Located on the Mobile Highway, the Riviera was less than a half mile from The City of St. Jude, where protestors camped on the final night before marching to the state Capitol. Several network correspondents covering the event stopped at the restaurant for a meal in the days leading up to the march. I don’t remember the content of the conversations Dad recounted each evening, but I definitely remember the context — they said the march would be significant, remarkable, unprecedented. I wish I remembered more.

How do other longtime residents remember those tense days in1965?  This month’s feature Memories of the March (page14) offers observations from several Montgomerians as they look back at the historic event that occurred 50 years ago this month. Their comments add fascinating context and perspective to our general knowledge about the momentous march. Don’t miss this timely feature you’ll only find in Prime.

As spring break rolls around, are your grandchildren — and their electronic devices — paying you a visit? What’s your role as digital guardian in this new online universe? From setting limits to joining them on the internet, Hosting Grandkids in the Digital Age (page 12) offers a wealth of information and handy tips on how to keep your youngest relatives savvy, safe, and satisfied in the world of digital media.

Are you preparing yourself for the best retirement possible? Take a look at this month’s What to Know About Money and Work by 50, 60, and 70 (page 20) for a decade-by-decade checklist of what you should know and when you should know it. It’s never too soon to prepare for that well-deserved retirement.

Do men and women feel a similar need to remarry? Maybe not, according to U.S. Census Bureau findings that reveal 52 percent of men remarry, while only 44 percent of woman take the “second-time-around” plunge.  Why the difference? Check out Robyn Passante’s interesting read on page 30.

Please don’t forget to keep helping State Archives identify individuals in their photo collection, as part of our ongoing “Our History” feature on page 10. Share these pictorial archives with others by copying or printing them from our website at www.primemontgomery.com.

With Spring Break almost here, beautiful weather is just around the corner. Relax and enjoy the brand new season, along with your newest issue of Prime.

Sandra Polizos, Editor

Sandra Polizos, Editor