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document.getElementById("story1").innerHTML="<p>Jim | Nashville, TN&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"oneClose()\">[click to close]</a></p><p>One of my fondest memories is sitting on the floor in front of the HUGE stereo cabinet, listening to the <i>Free to Be You and Me</i> album, clutching the dust jacket in my hands.</p>";
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function oneClose() {
document.getElementById("story1").innerHTML="<p><a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"oneOpen()\">Jim | Nashville, TN</a></p>"; 
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function twoOpen() {
document.getElementById("story2").innerHTML="<p>Dorothy H. | Charleston, SC&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"twoClose()\">[click to close]</a></p><p>My Godmother gave me my first copy of the FTBYAM album when it first came out.  I was two years old. My mother says that it played almost constantly on our record player, to the extent that the grooves actually began to wear out and it had to be replaced. I listened to it my entire childhood. I feel that in many ways, it helped to shape the woman, wife and mother that I am today. As a college student, I bought FTBYAM on CD and listened to it some more. When I went to New York to study at the National Shakespeare Conservatory, FTBYAM became a topic of conversation. We discovered that among the more than 50 of us only a small handful had not listened to it as a child, and three of those were foreign students. Our end of term talent show featured many skits and songs from FTBYAM.</p><p>Now, more than 30 years later, my three year old daughter listens to FTBYAM in the car, going to sleep at night, while playing with her friends, at snack time...</p>";
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function twoClose() {
document.getElementById("story2").innerHTML="<p><a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"twoOpen()\">Dorothy H. | Charleston, SC</a></p>"; 
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document.getElementById("story3").innerHTML="<p>Dima H. | Amman, Jordan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"threeClose()\">[click to close]</a></p><p>It’s like Jim from Nashville, TN read my mind. I opened to read submitted stories and found that his words were my exact thoughts. My brother, sister and I would sit in front of the HUGE stereo and sing along with the record playing (at the time) ... again and again.</p><p>I am not sure if Ms. Thomas reads these notes but I would like her to know that many of the songs in the original album (similar to those in the new version) had an impact on my life and my character. While indirect, those songs, their words, and that music gave me the courage (unconsciously) to make difficult decisions and take bold positions in my life that I was told by many CANNOT be made or taken. But I did it and I made it and it worked for me and for others.</p><p>Santa got the first album for my sister, brother and I in America in the 70's and this year, Santa got the book for my children in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We played the songs and I found myself dancing,  singing and just as happy to hear the music as my children were. Thank you for giving this generation a chance to find and create their own true characters.</p><p>I need to ask whether Ms. Thomas has ever considered making foreign language versions of <i>Free to Be… You and Me</i>? While my kids speak English, many in the Arab world and the rest of the globe do not. It is a shame that kids around the world cannot enjoy the POWER of these songs.</p>";
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function threeClose() {
document.getElementById("story3").innerHTML="<p><a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"threeOpen()\">Dima H. | Amman, Jordan</a></p>"; 
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function fourOpen() {
document.getElementById("story4").innerHTML="<p>Sky&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"fourClose()\">[click to close]</a></p><p>When I first found /Free to Be/, when it first came out, I knew it was decades ahead of its time. Now I am 61, and it is STILL ahead of its time. The genius and vision of its creators has yet to be matched. (Sorry Whoopie, <i>Free to Be II</i> just didn't quite match it). I began to purchase it and send it to all my 14 nephews and they received a new copy every Christmas. Now they are parents, and one asked me recently if I could get it for his two young boys. One nephew told me over dinner one night, in his first year of law school, how it had such a major impact on his life, opening his eyes and mind to alternative thoughts than what he was surrounded with. He said he could sing every song, tell me every line. I tear up even now, at 61, at the sheer simplicity and brilliance of every choice for song, entertainer, skit and thought. Thank you. You will never know the impact - the ripples made on the pond of life for so many.</p>";
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function fourClose() {
document.getElementById("story4").innerHTML="<p><a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"fourOpen()\">Sky</a></p>"; 
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function fiveOpen() {
document.getElementById("story5").innerHTML="<p>Marshall | Lexington&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"fiveClose()\">[click to close]</a></p><p>I remember the feeling 27 years ago when I was watching <i>Free to Be...You and Me</i> at school.  It felt right and resonates to this day when I enjoy every kind of music, can appreciate the goth, punk, hip hop, reggae, prep or anything flavor of personality.  It has been a major impact on my ability to love unconditionally as well as be open to loving myself. I've read a few books, seen a few movies in my time...this was definitely the most impactful.  Five years old plus 27 years equals much love shared and many bridges crossed!</p>";
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function fiveClose() {
document.getElementById("story5").innerHTML="<p><a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"fiveOpen()\">Marshall | Lexington</a></p>"; 
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document.getElementById("story6").innerHTML="<p>CC Lawhon | Tulsa, OK&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"sixClose()\">[click to close]</a></p><p>I started first grade at 4 years old.  I was put in a strict private school because \"it was the best.\" Sadly, the teachers were extremely harsh and negative.  I remember being in PE and the teacher said, \"Everyone watch CC--see how she's doing the pushups?\" So I keep going and everyone watches me...\"That's how you DON'T do them.\" I burst into tears and apparently Mom had to come get me because I didn't stop crying.  I was so scared and miserable there...but one day, we went to a different classroom (maybe it was Music class?) and we got these gorgeous pinkish red books with wonderfully colorful letters on them. Then we listened to a record and watched a filmstrip.  It had the most brilliant songs on it, one was \"It's alright to Cry.\"  And the other I can still sing, though I haven't heard it since, \"Free to Be You & Me.\" I remember knowing, that day, that I was going to make it through and that I would be okay.  I wished every day could have been in that other room with the beautiful books and songs.  I never forgot it because it was the one light in a very dark place.  Today, my whole life is based on helping teens and adults become who they really are.  This was my first exposure to that and the first time the \"real world\" gave me kudos for being CC LAWHON 100%. Thank you SO much J. (PS: I got to switch schools after that, had Mrs. Hyden who was SO very kind, and I lived happily ever after)</p>";
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function sixClose() {
document.getElementById("story6").innerHTML="<p><a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"sixOpen()\">CC Lawhon | Tulsa, OK</a></p>"; 
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function sevenOpen() {
document.getElementById("story7").innerHTML="<p>Stefanie | Fairfield, CT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"sevenClose()\">[click to close]</a></p><p>I was just listening to NPR where a featured guest recommended Free to Be You and Me as a must-see dvd.  \"It's Alright to Cry\" was the song they selected to excerpt... and of course I began crying as I heard it.  Having been born in 1972, this album was a major player in my household growing up.  About 10 years ago, I tracked it down and bought it on cassette b/c I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to share it with my new husband... and we wanted to play it in the car.  Now, as the mother of 2 children, ages 5 1/2 and almost-2, hearing this morning's NPR clip has reminded me to try to find it to download it to our family iPod, or minimally to buy it on CD.</p><p>Unbelievable staying power this album has.</p>";
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function sevenClose() {
document.getElementById("story7").innerHTML="<p><a href=\"#\" onMouseDown=\"sevenOpen()\">Stefanie | Fairfield, CT</a></p>"; 
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