a while back i heard former(?) digger peter coyote narrating something, and thought, "coyote. what's his deal, anyway?" soon after i checked out sleeping where i fall from the library. while the book is listed as an autobiography--and it is--coyote writes as much or more about his friends' lives and their common efforts as his own, which translates to a nice chunk of california counterculture history. coyote's perspective on some of the cultural events of the 60s was much different from pieces you might usually read either romanticizing or vilifying the so-called hippie movement. the book seems to tie a cast of thousands--everyone from gary snyder to huey lewis--into an intimate community. i was most interested in his participation in the diggers and the free family, and gratefully, the book was very informative and candid on the topics.
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sourceas sort of a companion piece to coyote's book, i watched the 2005 documentary "commune" about black bear ranch (the free family's northern-most compound). having just read coyote's book dealing with the family and its communal homes in such detail, the film seemed overly condensed and simplified (and left me with the nagging feeling that i had seen it before, though i have no idea of where or when?). still, seeing the old footage of the early days of black bear, along interviews with those so central to the movement all grown up, is fun and at times poignant.
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i also recently watched "saint misbehavin' " about wavy gravy. for many years, i wasn't sure what to make of mr. gravy. he would mc events that i attended and i wasn't sure if he was cool or what, he was just such a...clown. but later i read his book, Something Good for a Change: Random Notes on Peace Thru Living, and realized how much there is to this strange little human formerly known as hugh romney. the film gives you an abbreviated glimpse into what he's all about-- and that's goodness and a bit of magic.
and speaking of magic people, i received another surprise box from milla--this time for little old me :)
nettles and notes...the beautiful and inspiring postcards on which she wrote me a letter will remain on permanent exhibition:
the whole box was packed with goodies, and i was dismayed in retrospect to find that i didn't adequately photograph most things (holy moly, since when did we stop opening mail without a camera at hand?!). in any case, a couple of the items, took my breath away. i want it to rain and snow so bad....and yet these strangely warm afternoons may allow me to wear that gauzy bit of tunic right there....
but the vintage "organically grown" by arpeja sweater went to immediate use...
...with a pair of my funkiest--as in, most of all we want the funk-- 70s platforms
8 comments:
I wish there were someplace like the Black Bear Ranch here near me. I'd totally go join a group of people like that... But I'm Canadian and so I can't even go into the ones in the states, boo.
That sweater is amazing! I love the bits of rainbow. And those platforms are wicked.
my friend lived on black bear ranch in the 90's. commune living is not for me. i met wavy gravy when i was 15. he was very nice and friendly. i've always wanted to get a job teaching bellydance at his circus camp up at the hog farm. its only an hour or two away from here. love that rainbow sweater.
Oh wow, those platforms are amazing! And that sweater is so, so gorgeous, I'm kind of in love with it. (I've been sipping Milla nettles all day- so good and nourishing).
That book sounds so very cool, I love your line abut how he made it all seem like one big community. I often think about that, how if you were able to have some sort of magical perspective you could really see how connected everyone was. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation. I remember watching Commune when it came out and finding it odd somehow.
Oh, and I love Wavy Gravy's connection to the Women's Herbal Symposium!
Ha! Funny, I've just done a parcel from Milla post myself! And sh*t, I always learn something from your blog. Previous to reading this post a "Digger" was an Australian Gold digger from the goldrush days. It's now a colloquialism that means "Australian"...like cobber,digger,mate.
so many cool things in your surprise box, I love the sweater, the neon trim is awesome!
sounds like a cool book. i've heard of the commune movie. it's sounds like it would be worth watching.
your package from milla looks awesome! as awesome as the platforms! they are pretty fantastic.
Ha! I just came from Teeny's post and it seems the Milla magic is permeating the blogosphere! That rainbow tassel sweater is amazing and leave it to you to style it in the most perfect of ways, I think it was meant to be with those platforms!
I randomly spotted the movie Commune on the DVD shelf at the library awhile back and checked it out. Sounds like Sleeping Where I Fall would make an even better companion to having seen the film than the film was having read the book, if that makes sense. I'll add it to my list :)
Oh, man! I'm happy that you liked it. Sometimes it seems things just show up and scream "Send Me To Tina!" or "Send Me To Nicole!" That sweater was literally bellowing your name all the way from the abandoned sweater rack to the broken pottery pile. You look awesome and I can't wait to view commune. Ah, there are so many things I can't wait for ;)
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