1967! San Francisco. Although I was alive - I was far too disconnected from the radical flower children to really understand the world they were striving to live in. Our family was much more akin to the Mitch Miller Gang and Peter Paul & Mary. I was aware of the "folk" aspect, but had no idea about the hallucinogenic drugs and hippie culture that existed. I was however drawn to the fashion. The fringe vests, choker chains and suede Chelsea boots - mainly from the images I would see on television. They certainly weren't in our JC Penney catalogs.
Even the pop music I would listen to, went completely above my head. Groups like Santana, CCR, the Lovin' Spoonful, Jefferson Airplane or vocalists like Melanie, Janis Joplin or Joe Cocker were all there. But I am guessing I missed any insinuations of unrest or rebellion. I thought Goldie Hawn was sexy on Laugh In and only now understand just how cutting edge the show really was in defiance against the ruling classes. Kent State was just a short drive away, but to me it was just a story on television.
Even now, the images still conjure up joy and peace instead of a revolution. Hippies inspired a coolness to me not an aversion. And I wanted to be one of the cool ones. Time marches forward always.
