Mrs. Kitchens

I'm not sure where my family fit into "society". On the edge I'd guess. After all Edmund G. Brown, governor of the State of California lived a few blocks away and his son, Jerry Brown attended my grammar school. Casper Weinberger's mom lived next door.

So I went to Mrs. Kitchens after school during 7Th and 8Th grades (I think). Mrs. Kitchens was a co-ed "finishing school". We learned a bit about dancing, Waltz and Fox Trot. We learned about opening doors. We learned where to walk on a sidewalk - guy on the curb side. We learned which fork to use. All the necessary social graces. I got the impression that the girls were serious about this stuff and the boys were there because they had to be.

This was all "before women's lib' " so this stuff was considered appropriate and even necessary. It was also a way for the people in society to meet each other. Mike was good at this stuff and the contacts stayed with him. I wasn't good at this and I can't remember any of the names of the people who were there. After grammar school (8Th grade) schools were segregated - not by race, but by gender. I guess this was the last organized chance to meet people.