The Dana Street Saga

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

Monday, February 26, 1973 - 12:20 Noon

Sat around yesterday morning reading the paper and later playing a bunch of chess with Mike.

Cici called, and came over after awhile. First we went for a bicycle ride, but didn't get too far, as she got tired going up Dwight Way.

So we decided to go to the Lawrence Hall of Science by motorcycle, which we did. It was a neat place, and we had fun playing with the exhibits until it closed at 5.

On coming back to her house, Penny and her friend Cappy hadn't been able to get the VW bus started. He was saying that the battery cable was corroded, which it may have been, but this wasn't the real problem, and I jump started it for them out the ramp. The whole scene made me very uptight, with Cappy playing "the expert," and messing with our van.

Anyway, then they wanted me to stay with Cici, while they went up to Cotati to his place, I guess, which I agreed to do, but feeling put upon about it. They said they'd be home by 9 or 10.

So I came home for awhile, 'til Cici called me about 8, telling me that they'd left. I stayed with her until about 10:15, then left, and went down to have a beer at Pierre's.

Nothing of interest was happening there. Irene was nice to me, said I didn't look as cheerful as I had when she'd seen me last. I wasn't.

Left there around 11:30, and came home. Mike told me that Penny had called, and said she'd be staying overnight at Sonoma, and asked me to stay overnight with Cici. So I played Mike a couple of games of chess, then went back over to Cici's.

The situation really pissed me off at Penny. It seemed really irresponsible of her, and didn't give me any opportunity to say no, not that I would have.

I feel taken advantage of. Besides, I may have been out all night with someone else, in which case Cici would have awakened with no one home, late for school.

Anyway, I got Cici off to school, then went back to bed 'til after 11.

Today it's raining hard, a miserable day. I'm feeling pretty low, feeling the need for someone to love again, without much in the way of prospects that excite me.

Have to go to the bank today. Don't know what else I'll do.

8:15 PM

Went up to the bank in the rain. Passed Eileen heading the other way, and we said hi. So on finishing my bank business, I went back down to the Med, where I found her, and sat with her for a cup of coffee.

She's an art student at Cal from San Diego (but likes it better here), a senior, but won't finish this year, lives in a white Victorian house (with tower) at Cedar and Oxford, works at Apple Press (Wednesdays and Thursdays) on Shattuck Avenue. She seemed pretty friendly to me, though didn't ask me anything about myself. I think she's 20.

She didn't have a class this afternoon, but had to leave to feed her parking meter. I left awhile later, and saw her again at Durant.

I invited her for a joint, but she said "No thanks." She had to go home and "clean up her act," and offered me a ride anyplace.

But I declined, as I wasn't going anywhere.

I could have asked for her number, but didn't. Next time. She smiled a lot, and was friendly, but didn't give any real encouragement. I find her the most attractive of the current possibilities I have.

Went up to campus, where I saw Terese in the Student Center. We talked a little, but she had to go to a nutrition class. She also seems a possibility for me.

When I got home, Mike told me that Penny had called again, might not get home today, was having further hassles. This pissed me off further at her.

Cici called after 3. I played a couple of games of chess with Mike, then went over there.

Then I went shopping for groceries at Park & Shop, and when I got back, Cici told me that Penny had gotten home, but had gone out again.

11 PM

Then Cici and I rode Pegasus up to the Post Office, to pick up her package before it closed. After we were home awhile, Penny and Cappy returned.

She came into Cici's room, and I told her I'd been pissed off at her, and felt misused.

We discussed it and she said she was sorry, but felt righteous about it, as she felt it was "an emergency," rather than an ordinary situation.

After a few minutes, I came home and had dinner, then sat around the kitchen.

Later I came down to the living room to meet Randy, the new housemate. Don't know if I like him or not yet.

Watched TV until 11. May go to Pierre's for a beer, but feel that not much would be happening there anyway on a Monday night. Guess I'll go to bed instead.

Tuesday, February 27, 1973 - 1:05 PM

Today is rainy again. I think I had some dreams last night, but they've faded. I could only flash on fragments earlier anyway.

I went to the laundromat to do my laundry this morning about 11. Then to the Med while my clothes were washing. There I saw Eileen.

She waved to me, and I to her, and I joined her at her table. She was with another guy, a fellow art student, and a lady, who left in a few minutes. Today she's going to San Francisco to an Art Museum for an assignment with this other guy. From what she said, she may have a boyfriend, but she lives alone.

A girlfriend of hers came in, named Meca, who is a senior at Berkeley High. She looked older. She mentioned Eileen's phone number, which I memorized.

After awhile, Eileen and her friend left, and I talked with Meca for awhile. Also, while I was talking to Meca, Penny came in, and told me she was lending the van to Cappy this afternoon.

I still don't have much encouragement from Eileen, though she was by no means unfriendly. She just hasn't expressed much positive interest in me. So I guess I feel a bit discouraged, and am still on the lookout for a lover.

5 PM

It rained pretty much all day, but is clearing now. I played some chess with Mike, wrote a letter to Drew B, then went over to Penny's and paid some bills and balanced the checkbook.

Took a walk up to campus a little while ago, but without incident. Feeling sort of down and discouraged right now.

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