July 19 1973

July 19, 1973  Seeking Balance

I was born ten and half months after my brother. My mother was always honest about the tears she shed when she found out she was pregnant with me, since she almost died during my brother's birth (apparently last rights were given...my mother isn't Catholic.)

She claims I was a still baby...a very still baby. My mom, affirms that doctors were convinced I was a still born, but against their advice, she carried me anyway. She had decided on the name Sunni Day (my mother wasn't even a hippy.) My mother claims that when she saw me, she knew my name had to be Angel.

I was born with duality, the instant anguish over the knowledge of my conception, the vexing pregnancy and joy of my birth. When I look at other events: newspapers, comics, book reviews, music and movies, that swirled around July 19, 1973, I see the same duality and dance for balance.

While I was trailblazing my way into the world, defying medical advice.... south Texas was preparing for its own groundbreaking, a new hospital!! 

(Were they worried about my arrival? Did they think, Angel is here, we need a new hospital!!) 

One thinks of a hospital and often thinks illness or injury, and has a negative thought, but a new hospital often brings with it the latest technology and often the hope of better medical care. 

On July 19, 1973, Snoopy was evaluating balance and fairness in his world. 

Also, on the day I was born, The New York Review published and article: "Sophocles Our Contemporary?" by D.S. Carne-Ross reviewing the book: The Eating of the Gods: An Interpretation of Greek Tragedy by Jane Knott. 

D.S. Carne Ross quotes a line from Knott's book beautifully:

"…two separate and contradictory structures co-exist. The eating of the god, the rite of death and renewal" (Carne-Ross, 1973, p. 8).

Knott's examines Greek tragedies which are known for probing the balance of human nature and morality: the co-existence of light and dark. 

Led Zeppelin was on tour in North America in the summer of 1973 and played Philadelphia on July 20 of that year, the day after I was born. 

Arguably their biggest hit, "Stairway to Heaven," would become one of my all time favorite songs!!

The Exorcist directed by William Friedkin, was released in 1973 and was a groundbreaking success both critically and at the box office. The film was adapted for screen by William Peter Blatty from his New York Times best seller by the same name. The film was nominated for ten Oscars (won two) and influenced the horror film genre and pop culture. (The Exorcist is ironically, my favorite film!) I favor it for its technical execution and the brilliant writing. 

On July 19, 1973, the day I was born, my mother didn't know I was born into a world seeking balance and questioning the duality of the human spirit. 

She didn't know that a hospital that  would see both death and saves lives was announcing its arrival. She didn't know Snoopy was questioning the fairness of his little friend Woodstock. I am sure she was completely unaware of the book review that outlines the ancient Greek theories about the inner struggle of man. My mom claims she never listened to Led Zeppelin, so their 1973, hit song, "Stairway to Heaven" and the lyrics that illustrate the seduction of spirit in a material world had no influence on her. She couldn't know that film, The Exocist,  would be released late in the year, and that the writing would so deftly write about inner versus outer demons. 

Who would have guessed, that on that day, when she looked at me and named me Angel, that I would grow up to marry a man, take his last name and become...Angel Helle? 

It is fair to say that our experiences color our perspective on how we see the world. Snooping around what was happening on July 19, 1973 revealed the way I see the world. When I look at the periodicals, the music,  and the movie, I see the beautiful balance  of light and dark. I see the yin and yang of life.

 I wonder if I had been born on any other day, if I would still see the same thing. 

References

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Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/258534834832767681/

Carne-Ross, D. S. (1973). Sophocles Our Contemporary. The New York Review of Books,20(12), 8.

Led Zeppelin : Stairway to Heaven (New York 1973). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqqKKa9AJK4

Peanuts Comic Strip, July 19, 1973 on GoComics.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1973/07/19

Table of Contents - July 19, 1973 | The New York Review of Books. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nybooks.com/issues/1973/07/19/

THE EXORCIST - Trailer - (1973) - HQ. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDGw1MTEe9k

'The Exorcist': 25 Things You Didn't Know About the Terrifying Horror Classic | Moviefone.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.moviefone.com/2013/12/26/the-exorcist-facts/