Thoroughly Modern Charlotte: Romance, Third Millennium Style

Beth Massey lives in Chicago with her husband of forty plus years, William. Their apartment is on Lake Michigan in the appropriately named neighborhood of Edgewater. From their perch on the 25th floor in the city of big shoulders, they often experience the fog coming in on little cat feet. Though not a phenomenon one would want constantly, the times when they are cut off from the rest of humanity delivers a magical change of pace. Other days are filled with sailboats, sea gulls, traffic noises and a plethora of changing weather both beautiful and brutal-and of course a daily dose of Jeopardy. Together the two-first as friends and then as partners-have devoted their lives to political activism. They have fought against war and racism and struggled to ensure the rights of women and the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered) community. In 2009, the time had come for Beth to stay home with an already retired Bill. She embraced the opportunity that working ’9 to 5’ had made a challenge for most of the years of their marriage. Though Bill’s ability to be active has been curtailed by AMD, COPD and a debilitating essential tremor, his wit and knowledge are as sharp as ever. Ms Massey now spends her days writing and as caregiver to her well-informed best friend. They are free to engage in a great deal of conversation. Jane Austen would approve.