"Mary E. Pitassi" wrote: > > Me now: I'm basing this on a memory of an old article (maybe in Vogue, circa > August, 1995, which was one of the very first times Joni spoke of this > experience publicly?). And, as I recall it, the article discussed the birth > taking place in a Catholic hospital, not a home, although I could be > wrong--it's been a while.
I recall reading something from a person who'd been Joni's neighbor at the time she was pregnant, and can't remember now if it was an article or someone posting to the list. It described Joni being in poor health, and isolated, and penniless, and the person giving Joni oranges that she was incredibly grateful for. Does anyone else remember reading that? It was so moving, thinking of Joni in such a vulnerable situation. > I don't know what social services were available in Toronto then. But my > clear sense from various interviews I've read by Joni on this subject over the > years is that either she didn't know what government or other assistance was > available to her, or that, truly, nothing was. I think the entire government-run social service network is relatively new. Before all the moving around people here did after World War II, most people were part of extended families and that was the main social support system. Debra Shea
