http://oasisinspace.spaces.live.com/
Driftin towards shiftin has its ups and downs detailed by Karen at www.whatsuponplanetearth.com (last 2 energy alerts) and I’m right there with those( the clunky parts). Here in 3D, I’ve had some serendipitous coincidences. Was (last gasp) trying to (once again) transcribe my book ( Manic-Depressive Tours) from notebooks to computer (daunting/what’s the point?) when RB sent me a blog link by a fellow Atlantean http://subgeniusslack.blogdrive.com and it’s quite invigorating TSTL… especially the Byron Pop fest link (chapter on that in MDT) and the www.messyoptics.com has lots of pics of old friends too numerous to mention here BUT, the one of Norris at 15th street and the caption inspires me to share part of that chapter:
I met Archie while I was living at the “Chakra commune” of 15th Street in Atlanta. I moved there with some Chakra band members after returning from their Texas tour. (Later on that story).This one-block neighborhood between the High Museum of Art and West Peachtree St. was a menage of lovely, forested* old Victorians housing- an esoteric mix of hippie communes with a spiritual bent. On our immediate left were Krishnas, next to them The Children of God (hippie Christians), on our right Meher Babas, across the street The Theosophicals, ours was loosely TM-ers. In the other houses and mixed in with all these were artists, musicians, actors and techies at the Museum. Each house seemed to have a band. We’d often just close the block to have “battle of the bands” parties or jams.
After Texas and the wild events that led up to me landing on that bus, I was glad to be back in Hotlanta but feeling a bit disjointed though I loved this house and its illustrious inhabitants:
Through the screened porch and the ornate oval-glass door was the living room on left-home of Duckworth- artist, actor, street-theater magician and set designer at the Museum theater .Witty, wirey small but a ready spring of energy expressed in his head of dark spiral-coiled hair. He had a bunk bed in corner curtained by a billowing parachute tacked up here and there by his collection of oddities and works of art.
On the right a step up led to the room of Norris, black conga drummer in Chakra- his park attire colorful harem pants, rarely any shirt or shoes, a brilliant scarf on head turban style. He’s a most agile yogarian-full of generous joy and humor.
Next room on right housed Ted Levine, white drummer with a most amazing afro, his dark brows, piercingly intelligent, observant, amused eyes lit up his angular face. He had a picky, precise adherence to his monkish environment, diet and yoga/meditations routines which is why we moved to separate rooms as soon as we got back from Texas.
Remaining on right, next room housed 2 sweet dancer actresses/artist/jewelers whose names I forget as they were rarely there.
Across from them Jimmy Godwin, laughing Chakra guitar man. An excellent player-he had long, strawberry-blond hair and an effervescent personality.
Working back up the hall, the large kitchen, our only communal space (other than the porches and half of the living room). We shared our macrobiotic meals there and other interactions. It had lots of aqua-blue open cabinets, butcher block counter tops, a great big gas stove and a large farm table-a cheerful, vibrant room.
My room was next up in what should have been the dining room. It had only one window but the built in buffet and shelves above housed my collection of books, trinkets, autoharp, zither and dulcimer. Only room for a single bed (which suited me as well-only room for me). My treasure was a beautiful old quilt I’d found at a funky antique store. It had silken and velvet patches that were embroidered and joined by colorful, decorative stiches. It was in wonderful condition and I was so enchanted by it. I wanted to know its history. …..and blah blah blah… (& that’s a whole other story). …
(The turretted/balconied 2nd floor had it’s own cast of colorful characters…later on that -in MDT, not here)