Next stop…Summer in the City 1966 and The Summer of Love 1967
The Airplane Takes Off. Upward Bound at high school summer camp – George and Vince were fellow travelers.
We spent a lot of time in the literature deciphering the codes and reading the maps of those pioneers who had explored the path before us. Huxley, Watts, Leary, Kerouac, Hoffman, Dylan, and Lennon with a little help from his friends Morrison, Manzarek, Krieger and Densmore gave us the courage to explore this unmarked territory.
The sign pointed to the right – “This way –>” – but we were looking for something new and different and maybe just a little dangerous. Our proclivities being more sinister we chose the road to the left. It was darker, riskier and disturbing at times.
Vince was our travel agent – the light bearer. He carried the charges of concentrated illumination – the white lightning that snapped and buzzed within our DNA. Our eyes were opening for the first time like new kittens.
George is the artist. Azmodeus was conjured bringing forth tales of mystery and intrigue. He made us see the saucers with eyes of Harryhausen producing wild visions of the macabre and fantastic. Visions which stretched our imaginations and allowed us a terrifying glimpse into the universe next door.
Sitting in the dark on Sunday nights listening to Peter on Radio Free Oz we mutated into creatures of pure consciousness and understanding. Our direct connection to the Akashic Record allowed us to download the history of meaning. It was nearly too much. Our circuits were in danger of becoming overloaded. We had to moderate the speed to a rate we could ingest without a system crash. Mother Mary gave us some peace.
There were moments On the Road when the path looked like Desolation Row and we were The Dharma Bums but something that Timothy said came to mind, “You can be anything this time around.” Brilliance exploded. Here comes the Sun. Our mentors were right. Fasten your belts for the ride of a lifetime but don’t become too frightened…All Things Must Pass…we came into the clearing on the other side awakened, never to sleep again.
Maybe I should have accepted that appointment to the Military Academy instead.
