The Dana Street Saga

Life in Berkeley thirty years ago;
Searching for love and meaning

Monday, February 12, 1973 - 12:50 Noon

Yesterday, Cici and I took a walk up to campus, then to Dana Street for awhile. Mike and I played a couple of games of chess. It got rainy late in the day.

Last night, after getting stoned at home, I went to Pierre's again about 11:30. Only stayed for one beer. There was no one there I was interested in. Irene was cordial and friendly. Diane said "hi" from across the room, and even seemed friendly. I was pretty tired.

Had more dreams: One had to do with converting a swamp to a golf course through some special process. I was somehow involved in this process, with some others. I remember riding in a swamp buggy with someone. Not much else.

Penny just called a few minutes ago. Said she was coming home tomorrow. This was a surprise, since she'd been planning to stay until March. She said she just wanted to get "home." And that she and Steve are in a good place, but she'd had enough, evidently, of that life for awhile. It'll be good to get things back to normal again, I guess.

11:30 PM

Today's been rainy again. Cici and I walked up to get her pictures, and to get stamps at the Post Office, then drove to the other one when they didn't have the stamps I wanted.

Replaced the headlight bulb on the VW bus today, but it seems to be the wrong kind, as it's quite dull. This was a European VW, and it has a different kind of headlight. It was a frustrating job from start to finish, and now has become a further problem.

Went over to Dana Street for a little while and played a couple of games of chess (one stalemate and one victory).

Decided not to go out tonight. I can rest a bit and postpone my girl seeking activities until things are back to normal.

Tuesday, February 13, 1973 - 12:45 Noon

Had a bunch of very vague dreams last night including my first wet dream in awhile. In that one I was with someone, Penny, I think. She was on top and I raised my legs, at which point I came.

Don't remember much about it except something about two Ralphs. Others are also just the smallest fragments by now.

Today is rainy again.

Wednesday, February 14, 1973 - 8:15 PM

Yesterday, I walked around a bit, then, after Cici came home from school, took Dorit to pay her telephone bill. We had dinner early, prior to going to the San Francisco Airport to pick up Penny.

Her plane was late, and she finally got in about 8 PM. She'd had an interesting trip, and told us all about it.

On the way home from the Airport, I got a ticket for an "unsafe turning movement," which was a bummer. I changed lanes carefully, so as to not miss the right road, but the guy didn't stop me until two or three miles later. Luckily, we hadn't smoked a joint, which we had considered.

After getting home, Penny talked more about her trip, and I stayed there overnight, since she suggested it.

She said the vibes had been strange between her and Steve for awhile, and she'd allowed herself to be seduced by one of the yacht owners, which also freaked him out somewhat, but they'd gotten back to a pretty good place.

Penny and I made love in the morning, after I got Cici off to school. There wasn't much excitement in it. Actually, she moved it along too fast for me.

I didn't sleep well at all, may not have gotten to sleep at all.

Today I got up to go to my session with Dr. Yandell. We talked about my dreams.

I told him they had seemed to change somewhat in content and context. There weren't any "military state" dreams, and they were harder to get anything out of. We talked mostly about the "two-star general" and the guy named Frank, who seemed to be a bridge to the business world for me in some way.

Dr. Yandell was quite interested in him, wondered if he could be "me" getting back into the business world, or something.

I told him I didn't think so, that I couldn't conceive of being like him, though I liked him okay in the dream.

The sun came out today, and I walked up to campus. Played a game of chess with someone at the student lounge, and beat him.

Came back to my house. Was going to take a nap, but then Mike came home, we played some chess, then I helped him move a bed over from Liz's house.

Then I went shopping at Co-op, and came home and made dinner. Played some more chess with Mike and Sheldon, before coming up to nap again.

Tonight, Penny, Elaine, and I are going to the Longbranch, as it's free for women tonight.

Thursday, February 15, 1973 - 11:25 AM

Here I am getting up in my own room for a change. I slept well, and my bed (a mattress on the floor) is really quite comfortable. I didn't have any dreams, but recall repetitious hypnogogic images of a couple of girls I was trying to attract.

Had a pretty good time last night at the Longbranch. There were a number of attractive girls there. First I danced with Penny a couple of times, and asked Elaine, but she didn't want to. I danced with a pretty girl named Jan, with a flower in her hair. When Penny and Elaine wanted to leave early, I asked Jan if I could call her, but she said she was "involved" with someone else.

Also met a girl named Bridget, a sexy butterfly type. I bought her a beer, and kept running into her. At closing time I asked her if she needed a ride anywhere, or if she'd like to come home with me.

She said no, and something about "no Charlie" or "no coca," indicating she wanted some cocaine.

Also danced with Sue, from up the street a few times, and her friend Marsha, whom I think I met at her first party.

Talked to, then danced with a girl named Sarah, who reminded me a bit of Patti, though less sophisticated. I think I'd seen her before at Pierre's. She seemed to come on to me, but an innocence or childishness about her put me off a bit.

There was also a blonde girl, who seemed to be giving me the eye from time to time, but she was continuously occupied with another guy, and there was no opportunity for me to make contact.

I took Penny and Elaine home around midnight, they dropped me off at my place, and I came back by motorcycle and stayed until 2 AM.

Near closing time, I made contact with, and danced with an attractive girl named Suzanne. It was hard to tell what she felt about me. Though not exactly my type, I feel I could be very interested if she were interested in me.

At closing time, I asked if I could call her, and she told me where she worked (India Imports on Broadway in Oakland, everyday 1 to 9 except Friday and Saturday, I think she said). So I'll at least follow this up, and see what happens.

All in all a pretty good night, though I was disappointed that Jan wasn't available. She reminded me a lot of Sandy in Chicago, though younger.

Today is sunny and nice, looks like Spring.

7:55 PM

Have had a pretty nice day. Took a walk up to campus. Saw Lorraine at John's Soup Kitchen on the way past. She saw me and waved, and I waved back, but didn't stop, feeling afterwards that I should have. (Evidently, part of me didn't want to stop, so I didn't. I should think about what part.)

But I did stop in and talk with her on the way back. She was with a girl who was evidently a close friend, and three guys. She said she had seen me with Cici, and asked about her (name, how old, living situation), and I told her.

Also on campus, I ran into Sarah from last night, and we chatted a bit. She was meeting someone there, and he soon showed up. I was right that she isn't really my type, but she is cute in her own sort of way.

8:10 PM

I have just now decided that this might be a good evening to try that Quaalude, as nothing much is happening tonight, so I took it just now.

After coming back from campus, which was nice, by the way, with the musicians (but also the Jesus freaks and preachers out in force) and a lot of people digging the Spring day, I then rode Pegasus to the DMV to get my duplicate driver's license (the cop who had stopped me on the way back from the Airport had said mine was too worn out, and needed to be replaced), which was a red-tape hassle, but not too bad.

While there, a cute girl (under 18) named Shirley was giving me friendly smiles, but she was giving them to other guys too, and we didn't talk at all.

After that, I rode down College Avenue to Broadway, then to MacArthur Boulevard to visit Suzanne at India Imports. She seemed glad to see me, and as she had to go on an errand, I went with her, and we got to talk for a long time. She grew up out here, spent two years at Cal State Hayward, majoring in psychology, and is working this year.

We talked about Jung, Freud, psychology, Hesse, religion, and society. She likes Erich Fromm a lot, hasn't gotten into Jung (I told her a lot about his ideas), is Jewish, but doing her own thing religiously, and we had a pretty relaxed but low key ride together.

I asked for her phone number and gave her mine. I said I'd call her soon, and she suggested we might get together Sunday if it's nice. She lives in Oakland near Payless and CCAC (California College of Arts and Crafts).

Came home, visited Penny at work for awhile. Dorinda was with her. She's from North Carolina. Came home to cook dinner, having broccoli. Then I sat around socializing and having conversations, and playing chess with Sheldon, having some really good games.

The Quaalude is really taking effect now. I can hardly even write. So I'll just relax and experience it.

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