Church of the Good Earth 1963 and Beyond

Hey Cass,

Wow! This coming November will be 40 years since we met. Hard to believe. Where are Carmen and Sally now? I've been all over the place but mostly L.A. and Europe. The adventure continues.

Multi Ubesc

 

I got some of that shit myself. Ga Ga and I were sitting on the Cole Street front stoop and we snorted some. Strange days.

 

Oh yeah, I remember that night. The kid kept saying, "where's Bosco, where's Bosco?"

 

NC - no we ended up taking our house off the market because prices are down and we couldn't find the right farmstead. We may try again next year. In the meantime, we plan to hunker down here and continue to fix things up in case we put it back on the market.

We would like a place like yours (as you so vividly describe it).

Cheers,

Spud

 

"Wild Bill,
Ahh ha, it seems we are all crawling out of the woodwork. You are one of the people I was hoping to hear from. The incident you are referring to at the Cole Street House I don't remember, but I do remember you Sag, always full of questions that I couldn't answer--- there was so much going on. The need for what the Good Earth offered was so great--- we were overwhelmed, but we never refused anybody--- an issued that agrivated many people with me. The Good Earth Oak Street House was an attempt to create a gateway to a different reality, all who entered were welcome--- hopefully casting off the negative vibs from which many of us came.
One incident that I remember was at the Haight Street workshop. Cyril and I were cutting up something that was contenious between us--- somethinmg his paranoia latched on to about something that happened in prison that he could not seem to shake--- too much nose candy whose introduction I feel a lot of responsibility for, but then we considered it a soft drug--- the devil works in myesterious ways, and I'm not blamming outcomes on "other worldly enities" just seeking a metaphore. Anyway, I told Cyril that I had loved him from the first time I saw him in prison and you freaked. I won't put any conditions on your response people were still dealing with bad"pottie" training from other lives and it wasn't common in those days to talk of brotherly love-- men are still inhibited when it comes to expressing deep feelings, particularly between each other, although today that issue is more acceptable. Today7s youngsters are at least confronting past programing./
My feeling about the SF experience is that there came a time when too much energy was contained in a limited space. The trip was becoming negative we needed to split up and reappraise the experience. From what I'm hearing in Hip Forum is that many of us have made the transition and kept the faith.
I'm now six years clean--- really never lost the faith, but I was really bummered there at the end in SF. I have also been sadened by the news of Cyril's demise I had really looked forward to sitting in a rockin' chair someplace looking out over the mountains replaying the past. I miss a lot of us that I'm hoping to contact--- mostly Dana, Mouseman Linda Penn,Wendy, Darrel, Nathanial--- wonder what happened to Joel--- I've been in touch with Ranger, which was great. And I know there is a whole group in Eugene-- Bonnie, and her/our friend who ran the garden store--- for the love of me I can never remember her name, Carolyn and all her kids. I know I'm missing a lot of us. Each time I send an email I remember a few more. I wonder if Painter Jimmy continued with his painting.
There is a lot of connected "movement history" among us. Knowing how involved you are there are many recorded events in the SF Library--The Good Times,Berkely Barb and others. Anybody been in touch with Sag Johnny, he at one time had copies of "The Goddamn Independent, so did Leonard' maybe even"Mad" Anthony--- which makes me think of "Gemni" John--- Weasel, Shills, Breeze, I could go on an on.
I will close for now--- keep on truckin' bro---

 

Whoo,
How the dark secrets come out later--- I never had any idea of that kind of stuff happening-- Ray, wow, but I do remember him being ostracized for abusing Dana's mother. A lot of issues came up with which we didn't deal with to good. A gap in our process was regular community meetings to have discussions on internal problems--- as if we had time to deal with all the negative issues that came up. Another generational change juswt like what is happening today and people are still having problems with accepting each other. None of us are immune. I know that a lot of my issues came out of my past--- some good some bad, and at that time I too was unwilling to to face some realities, live and learn.

 

I remember the cause of that incident well. Wid Bill, you should remember that incident well. Sam had stolen 15lbs of MDA from one of our connections. They told me they had seen Sam running down the street--- I confronted Sam, he said no, I had no other proof andf had to go with who I considered a bro at that time--- Ranger always told me he was a snake, also said he had seen him lately. Wild Bill should remember the incident, it seems like he was the one who found Sam's stash under the steps leading out of the house. Rockin' Ron freake4d out, he thought that I was going to do Sam in--- that was one of our problems--- I didn't see it as that kind of problem--- I just put the word out on the street--- Sam disappeared. That was a long time ago--- there are only a few I would not call brother from the past which will be left in the past, but Sam is one of them--- maybe.

 

Spud,
Good quote, 08/12/09

 

Hi,
I looked up your profile--- not much there. From your Post it sounds like you came later into the trip? If its noty asking too much, bring me up to date. I'm always interested in other people's perceptions--- if you care to share. You gave some military connections. I'm a veteran and come from a military family background--- lay it on me. (smile)

 

I really enjoyed living at Cole Street. I had the upstairs front room that overlooked the street. Wendy had the bedroom beside me, Diane, Dennis & Jake; middle room; Maura; room off the dining room and Pisces Bob in the back porch. When I had house, every once-and-a-while, I would go to Chinatown, buy a pork roast and make sweet and sour sauce. We did collages on the kitchen walls.

Remember the 4th of July when we went to the abandoned bunkers on the beach with a ton of fireworks (bottle rockets, M80's, etc) and had a room to room battle? That was very trippy. The bunkers were completely dark and then everything would light up when someone fired a bottle rocket or set off a M80. I never had so many fireworks in my life. There was like an endless supply. Then we went back to Cole Street and continued the battle on the street and inside the house. The cops came and shut us down.

 

bear with me.

Steven, questions you couldn’t answer, eh? That’s funny. Yes, we were overwhelmed but at least we knew we were, so we did what we could to accommodate. I’m surprised at myself for such a reaction to you telling Cyril you loved him. Glad to know that I’ve evolved. If I heard that today I wouldn’t hesitate to chime in with the same professions. I miss Cyril, he was such a mentor to me. True what you say about a lot of kids today. I went to protest against the invasion of Iraq and on the way there I met two guys around 16 or 17 whose awareness made me feel that we’ve done some good in this world. And props to you for staying clean. That’s awesome.

Yeah, Sam. I remember that when I found his stash I didn’t want to believe it. I felt so betrayed, like a mule kicked me in the gut.

Ray. A prime example of Jekyll/Hyde. When he was sober he was the sweetest guy, almost shy. Loaded…he was a monster. Obviously had some control issues.

There is a free website that can find people for ya. It’s called Zabasearch. Just Google it and it’ll come up. There’s a listing for Wendy in S.F. Kid’s name is Kevin Edwards and I believe he’s somewhere in Florida. There are a lot of them listed but almost all are too young to be him. Darrel, I heard, is in Las Vegas. Mouse is in Eugene. I tried to find Sleaze John but looking for a John Gilbert is a tough one, way too many come up. Same with Virgo Steve. Thousands of Steve Jacksons. I often think of Joel myself. He seemed conflicted, stuck between two worlds, one of compassion and doing some good works yet clinging to the petit bourgeous values that Christine, his wife(?) devotedly embraced. Can’t remember his last name. Can’t remember Hydraulic Jack’s last name either but then again I don’t want to. He was amusing but there’s not a seismograph made that would pick up any movement concerning political or philosophical concern inside that skull. What was the term…energy drain? I may have found Whitey, not sure. I’ve got an address and I’ll send off a snail mail and see what comes back, if anything.

Sag Johnny passed some years ago. Cancer I think. Mouse has copies of GDI. Interesting story about Johnny. I was at USC in L.A. in the late 70s-early 80s and a friend of mine introduced me to a Sociology professor. The prof asks me about my background and when I mention GE he asks me if I knew a John Banfield aka Sag Johnny. I told him I did, why? Turns out the prof’s wife took off for a long weekend with Johnny. BTW, ‘Cakes, Johnny was from Jersey, not Brooklyn.

Weasel’s gone, too along with Breeze, Herman, Kelly. Anybody know about BuddyWah? He had liver cancer when we reunited at Woodpecker in ’04. And what took Leo Ron away. Whatever it was I’m sure he faced it with superhuman courage. A more fearless man I’ve never met. Taurus Barbara’s work is known as the “Munch Mancini” series. Any ideas about Laura Weed? I know that her old man, George, was murdered by the Tex-Mex mob for dipping into the product too much. Speaking of dipping into product, I would be stunned if Sag Lisa was still with us. She was the redhead with the sparkling green eyes, had two kids, a boy named Cisco and I can’t remember the little girls name. Last time I saw Lisa she was hookin’ so she could score some heroin. The sparkle was loooong gone.

Hey Spuddy. GaGa. John Agrillo. Mr. Personality. A most unlikely Lothario than anyone I’ve ever known. But then again he played the odds. He figured if he propositioned the hundreds of ladies that walked by each day at least one would take him up on it. I can still see him doing his little NY shuffle in front of the Recycling Center hitting on EVERY female that walked by. He had the worst opening (and closing) line imaginable with, “Hey, yo…how ‘bout a little?” But it sure worked. And he wasn’t picky either. Age, size, looks, color, physical deformities (amputees, burn victims) didn’t matter to John. Come one, come all. What a character! Someone, I don’t remember who, told me in like, ’75, that he had died. Three or four years later my phone rings. I pick it up and on the other end, “Hey, Wild Bill. This is GaGa and I’m dead.” He was living in Brooklyn at the time.

I can also see him when he was drunk or stoned. Taurus John would openly ridicule him and GaGa would just sit there taking it, fire-red eyes half open, drool spilling from one corner of his mouth as his responsive incoherent gibberish would spew forth. Taurus John came back out to S.F. from Brooklyn in late ’78 to visit. He was at my place that I had with A.J. and Krista and John Clark. He planned on staying a month or so. It was a Saturday. He arrived in the morning. That evening around 6:00 an earthquake hit. John flew down the stairs and out the door. I’ve not seen nor heard from him since.

I used to hear that our experiences would make a great movie. After nearly three decades of filmmaking I have to say NO, it wouldn’t make a great movie. Great movies have great endings and we’re not ended. A great book, now that’s a possibility.

I love you all. Without you I would not be me.

Dubya Bee…Love Yourselves…You Deserve It

 

omfg hey cakes, dont know if you'll remember me jimmie and sheilds dragged me home one day to cook breakfast ended up staying for years no special tag just cheryl wild bill .anne came up to stay with carl and i to have jason in tiller. lived with anne and chuck and lip at 439 was there when the we locked up the door with hangisto to try and get the house and the list goes onnnn. just on a whimm type in good earth and there yall were crazy. i'm 55 now healthy as a horse and live at the beach with my daughter erika and grandaughter. hope to hear from some one.

 

Cheryl. Used to be Bonagur? Wow! Cool! South Carolina and Erika's a mom? Fantastic. Jason was diagnosed as autistic when he was 5 and didn't talk until he was 10. Ever since he hasn't shut up. But he is such a sweet human being. Savant at some things, totally inept at others. He's going to college and has a part time job, living with Ann in Sacramento. She worked for the State Tax Board for 20 years, then retired. Gained a ton of weight and developed diabetes. She tried her own design biz but the economy being as it is made it difficult. Now she's working for Comcast. Any idea where Frankie (Ritchie) is? No special reason, just curious. How old is your granddaughter? Hey, anybody wants to write me with pers. stuff they can contact me at: filmkat@hotmail.com Note however that since I spend hours and hours a day writing for a living I'm not so predisposed to write in my down time. I get back to folks but sometimes it's a few days before I do.

 

If it was the 4th I'm thinking of, the cops came when Bull or someone on the roof of the White House dropped a string of ladyfinger on the head of someone walking up Cole and we Na sties went home and got wrist rockets (sling shots) and cherry bombs and started laying them in over the White House from the Panhandle Park. The cops were hearing them from Park Station. *LOL*

 

You still haven't told me what iridology is.

 

I'm still waiting for that email from you. Talked to Pices Pattie on the phone--- got to send her an email. She was telling me people were having a hard time getting into the GE through Hip Chat--- I think I found the way for those having trouble. After registering go to the top plug-in Social Groups when it comes up scroll the side bar on the left all the way to the bottom and plug-in Good Earth 1963 and beyond.

 

I believe that was the 4th of July I was talking about. It was the best 4th I ever celebrated!

 

I assume you're asking Nailcakes, but I believe that iridology is a form of pagan worship of the iris.

Not really, just kidding. I think it's looking at someone's eyeball / iris and noting any dots or spots on the iris which are supposed to be connected to organs / parts of the body. An iridologist can look at your eyes and tell you how healthy you are or if you have any inflictions of the body.

NC - does that sound right?

 

Hey Spud, you are correct about your iridology theory, sir. The 4th of July Battle was indeed at Ft. Jefferson, which BTW, is where I believe Kelly was killed in a hang gliding accident years later. He had become an instructor but the winds there are pretty strong and unpredictable. So no matter how good you are that place is one deadly spot for aerial pursuits. Exhilirating in deed but deadly indeed. Hey Ranger, I forgot about that but yeah, I remember that it was Bull that got the whole thing going. That was one wild day and the best part...nobody got hurt as I recall. Is your grandson in the shit in Iraq or Afghanistan? When I spoke to you from Woodpecker you had mentioned he was going into the army(?) at the time. I pray he's safe. And Stacy, yep, that's the way I got in.

Now, to put a point on what we're about (at least from my POV), here's something most precious to share with you, my brothers and sisters, sons, grandsons, daughters and granddaughters. As Pogo said "We have met the enemy and he is us." This is the antithesis (too deep for ya Zev?):

"Hey Wild Bill!!

Great to hear from you. Bucharest huh? I heard that you were in the movie business.
I just spent the last few days with a childhood friend who I hadn't seen since I was 18. Her mother's mother immigrated here from Transylvania. The grandma decided that in America, girls could do anything. So in 1920, this third-grade-educated sweat shop worker immigrant tracked down a woman physician in Chicago. The two became lifelong friends. My friend, Kim, is a surgeon and until recently was the Dean of Medicine at the University of Iowa. Her sister, Pam, is an OB/GYN and married to an Endocrinologist. Amazing story, huh?

I live in a gated golf community called PGA West in La Quinta, CA. My ninth novel is being published next April and I'm hard (and joyfully) at work on my tenth.

Last year I had two liver transplants and came as close to dying as a person can get and still come back. I'm still too skinny and too yellow, but I'm fighting hard. I'm in my 6th week of Interferon treatment to keep my Hep C from ruining my new liver.

My husband moved out six weeks after the surgery. He just broke inside and couldn't handle watching me die. I still see him at least a couple times a month. We talk on the phone a lot, and he sends me whatever money I need. My parents live close by and I see a lot of them. I'm too weak to drive a long distance by myself and my doctor is two and a half hours away, so my dear 79-year-old dad drives me in and back. Ron (my husband) drives my sometimes too.

This is going to sound weird, but I've reached the point where I'm grateful for this experience. I have experienced such extraordinary kindness and help from all different people. I've slowed down and completely reevaluated what is important about life. In all, I'm a happier more content person. Now if I could just get my tits and ass back and lose the yellow eyeballs, life would be even greater.

All my love,

Barbara"

Angels don't descend from the cosmos in a pronouncement of cacophonous sound and fury, they are us in their guise and ascend above when called to reveal themselves. I love(d) Barbara more than I can express with mere words.

 

Just for the record, Kelly was the owner of the hang glider shop across Sloat from the zoo not just an instructor. He died in an accident at Fort Funston across the Great Highway from the zoo. He was flying not a hang glider, buit a para-sail that day. It was a first for him I believe. As he landed on the edge of the cliff the wind caught it and flipped it. He landed below on the beach breaking his neck. I attended his memmoeial which the Park Service allowed us to hold there at Fort Funston. His son Zepher and his mom slive near the beach in SF. zepher is a gentle giant the size of an NFL linebacker.
You've got, Bull was the instigator! Has anyone heard of/from Bull?
That's Rita's grandson, Chris and he's back safely from his second tour with the Special Forces in Afghanistan.

More later, Love Ya'll