Janis Joplin / Big Brother and the Holding Company –
“Combination of the Two”
Yet another bit gleaned from my longer post of 29 Jan 2014.
“‘The Time Has Come,’ The Walrus Said, ‘To Talk of Many Things:
Of Murdered Birds, Of Turtles Green, and Hippies Sellin’ Rings.’”
My mother was probably
“The Original Hippy Chick.”
When Haight-Ashbury was in full bloom, she would not shut up about it until we ventured there.
(Just the two of us. By Ourselves. Mother and Child–You could do that in ’67–No Worries. Don’t try it today. Please Don’t try it today.)
I knew a little of the ‘Hippy Culture’ back then, yet had no desire to experience it ‘up close an’ personal.’
Mom did.
I Miss My Mother
I MISS HER FREE SPIRIT
So one bright sunny Saturday morning we packed up the Ol’ Rusty Rambler and headed off to ‘Frisco and Haight-Ashbury.
Okay. Not Really Our ACTUAL Car
But close. Damn close.
To say that trip opened my eyes would be an understatement bordering on felonious. I was shocked, awed, amazed, bothered, bewildered, enlightened, enchanted, enthralled, and all at the same time.
The whole day was a ‘Whirling Dervish’ of attacks on my senses and emotions. I remember clearly all the people with their long hair, colorful clothing, love beads, head bands, peace signs, guitars, laughter, and smoke coming from everywhere and not smelling at all like the smoke from the cigarettes my mother used to light up.
But most of all, I remember
The Music
Music was ubiquitous and oh how I did love the music.
We walked up and down those streets for hours and I do believe my mother stopped and purchased some trinket from every single hippy-trinket-seller she visited, which by my estimation, would have been all of two hundred of them.
Not really being a trinkets-man myself, I purchased a pair of small green turtles that I wanted to rescue from a hippy life I was certain they were not well suited for.
I actually remember telling the turtles during the ride home not to worry; that they were safe now, and also apologizing to them if I had left any of their family members behind due to the fact that my meager allowance did not afford me the luxury of benevolence to purchase freedom for the whole lot of them–Even though I did beg mom for an advance to do just that.
The turtles ended up having a fine long Turtle – Life and were probably the only two green turtles to ever migrate from
California
to
Texas
Texas suited them and me, better. Much better.
Author’s Note: I am a NATIVE Texan. Born in Ladonia, 1957
(Wasn’t MY fault I was forced to live in California for too many years.)
***
As Always, Thank you for visiting and reading. All comments are welcomed.
Wishing Happy Days Ahead to all My Friends.
***
Bonus Added
Added Bonus:
“But you know I’m very well protected –
I know this goddamn life too well.”
***
“Yeah, but I’m gonna take good care of
(Insert your name here)
Yeah,
Honey, ain’t no one gonna dog me down.
Alright, yeah.”
shehannemoore,
I have some good memories, as do we all.
Thank you for taking time to visit and comment.
Peace!
(Little Sixties Relapse there…)
A wonderful post of the things that never leave us. I hardly know where to start telling you how much I love this post . But I do. What a lady and a shaper of your free spirit. The turtles had me laughing. I felt I was right there in the second you bought them.
barbaramullenix,
Thank you much for your visit and comment.
You do realize, of course, that Janis was a Native Texan–Port Arthur
(hehehe–had to get that in)
But, I would’ve loved her just as much even if she had been from Katmandu.
Or Tasmania
Or, God Forbid
NYC!
Pretty certain I have written many more than a few posts here on my blog that are either solely about, or at least pay homage to Janis in some way.
She has always been a personal favorite of mine.
She had heart, guts, energy, talent, and on and on. Goin’ on.
Thanks again for your time.
Cheers,
–Lance
Thanks for the Janis song. Now and again I really miss her (yes, I’m that old).