Life as a rolling stone

My story began in 1965. My recollection of it begins in 1969 70.

Being raised in the 70s by what was considered hippie parents was an education in partying. Don't misunderstand, my parents were good, hard_ working people raising 3 kids in a crazy time in American history. But for me, it was the best of times. My sister Renee and I played and fought with each other and got into a lot of trouble. The family life was going well, I started going to school and realized that there were more kids than just my sister, and Renee wasn't happy about that. She tried everything she could think of, including throwing my shoes behind the big console television to stop me from going to school. Mom was on to her, though, it always amazed me how mom knew exactly what the problem was. Didn't always like how she dealt with the problem, since it usually involved me having to go get dad's belt. Dad's belt was always around dad's waist, which meant not only was I getting a whooping, I had to explain to my dad why I was asking for the implement of my misery. And so went the first few years before my brother was born.

The day my brother, Mark, was born, was a good day. Not only was I getting a brother, I got the best distraction from me getting into things I shouldn't be doing. Renee and I were the children that people read about and say thank god they weren't mine. Mark was just the opposite, he was the little angel. Quiet and well-behaved without the threat of capital punishment.

After Mark was born, my parents wanted to move out of Sacramento, so they moved us to Little River, Ca. Right down the road from Mendocino, Ca. The California Coastal Redwoods are probably the greatest place on the planet for a kid to live. Now, this was a true experience in my life. Remember I said my parents were hippies? My first time smoking Marijuana? I was 6 yrs old. I remember we were living in Sacramento in some Apartments, and while normally the kids were outside playing when the company was over. One time I wasn't told to go outside, Elton John is playing on the stereo and my dad hands me a doobie, I look at it, I don't smoke cigarettes dad, I said. He said it's not a cigarette son and I said ok took it and puffed it like my mom smoked a cigarette. No, not like that, son, you suck it in and hold it. I did, and that was 49 yrs ago, and I still do some smoking today.

It is now 1974, and we have moved to the Northern California coast of Mendocino. Little River, to be exact, 5 miles up Airport road. We lived in a 3-bedroom house on 5 acres of the redwood forest. Renee and I were in heaven. The family next door had 2 kids, Ben and Morgan, and we quickly became friends. They had 20 acres we could explore. We went and enrolled in school and Renee and I liked the school, the only problem was our dad was our School bus driver.

It was cool till one morning on the ride to school Morgan, a kid and I, named Ronnie were sitting together and Ronnie was being an ass to Morgan. So I reached over and punched Ronnie right in the nose, Ronnie started crying. Now Ronnie was sitting by the window, Morgan in the middle and me the Isle.

When we arrived at school, somehow Ronnie got off the bus before me and was standing beside my dad when I come off the bus step around the corner, that's him!!! Screams Ronnie. My dad looks at me, and I know right then I am dead meat.

Then something happened I didn't expect, my dad sent me to the principles' office. I thought it was a little like double jeopardy since I got in trouble at school and my dad was mad when he came home from work and I got punished a second time for the same crime.

At this time in America, things were pretty volatile politically with the Viet Nam war, Nixon was president and people were streaking everywhere. I thought it would be fun to walk down the road naked. I go into the house and start stripping off my clothes. Mom asks what are you doing, James? Looking her right in the eyes, I'm going streaking down the road mom, I say. She just looks at me, gives a good chuckle and says have fun.

Renee, who is to chicken to go streaking with me, didn't mean she wasn't going to go along to laugh when I get spotted. I walk out the driveway I give a quick look down the Road, I see no cars, and off down the Road I start my ding-a-ling jiggling a swinging around. Just then I hear the car coming to a bend in the road, and there it comes. A big shiny Cadillac driving around the bend.

At first, I am cocky and keep boldly walking because I know most of the people who live up and down the road. I know most of the people who live on the road. I am always hitchhiking up and down the road. I was well known on Airport road. This time I see a Cadillac with an old couple in it, and they are slowing to see me, and that is when I ran. I ran like a little Rabbit, and hid behind a redwood tree. Slowly skirting it, so the old couple couldn't get the picture. I learned 2 things that day. First is that Redwood trees are great shields. Second, it doesn't matter how old or young, you are always going to look stupid and laugh. I watched them until it was out of sight and ran home and got dressed with my family, laughing at their life.

We have lived here for a year now. Renee, Mark, and I were loving living up here. At least Mark was loving it till he walked into the Rabbit house when dad was killing rabbits for dinner, Mark was only about 2 years old. He followed me to the Rabbit house, he followed me inside and no one thought anything about it, and then Mark saw dad strike the Rabbit in the head and then cut its throat to bleed out. Mark looks right at dad, points a finger at him, and yells MURDERER!!! Dad and I were shocked,

To be continued.