The Dana Street Saga

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

Sunday, March 4, 1973 - 10:15 AM

Last night turned out to be a very good night. Let me catch up.

Eileen called up around 6:30 to say she wasn't feeling too well and wasn't sure if she'd feel like coming to the party or not.

I told her I wasn't feeling that great myself, with my ear situation, etc.

She said she'd nap awhile and call back around 8:30, if she felt up for it.

Those of us in the house were getting up for the party early, smoking joints, sampling the punch, and dancing to the Stones by around 8. We were all very high, and almost exhausted by the time people started arriving.

Eileen called about 9, saying she'd like to come over for awhile in about a half hour. So I borrowed Nancy's car, and went to pick her up.

When we got back, the party had quieted down considerably, and a bunch of people were in Sheldon's room making their own music.

I danced a bit with Eileen, though she wasn't quite up to it. Then I had to go upstairs to change the music, and when I got down, a guy had engaged her in conversation on the couch, which made me somewhat uptight.

Finally, I got talking and dancing with Liz, having a good time despite being uptight, and soon the guy got up and Pat took his seat, to my relief.

After awhile, I took Eileen out to the backyard to get some air, and we finally made contact at a close level for the first time in a couple of days, and we talked about us, our feelings, etc.

She told me she has an "old man" of sorts, who lives with someone else, and who was with her at the Med the other day (the greybeard). I'm still not clear on their relationship.

I told her I'd felt really good with her on Wednesday, but had felt a bit strange with her since then.

She said she sometimes gets preoccupied, or overloaded with inputs, so that she doesn't seem to be all there sometimes, but that she still feels good about me and likes me a lot.

Then we came up to my room to do some Tarot. After about twenty minutes, she suggested we go over to her house to be alone together, so we went by motorcycle, stopping for some brandy on the way.

When we got there, we stayed pretty close, made some popcorn, drank some brandy, and watched some TV, The Caine Mutiny. I rapped a bit about my father and Navy life, etc.

We hugged and kissed a bit, but soon she said she was really flaked out, and wanted to go to bed. So after a tender goodnight, I left.

She said she was sorry she was so dragged out.

Before, I'd asked, "Are we good friends?"

She'd said, "Yes," and "don't worry," understanding my uncertainty about her, and gave me a warm look. So anyway, I think things are pretty good with us now.

On getting back to the party, I danced with Arlene, whom I like more and more, for quite awhile.

Pat and Mike were up in Pat's room talking when I looked in, and later I looked in again, and Pat was crashing out. I talked to her a few minutes, and suggested she come on downstairs, which she did after awhile.

I was glad to see her, and danced with her for a long time, getting closer and closer, finally kissing and really feeling good with each other.

After hugging and kissing on the couch for a long time, I told her I'd sure like to take her to bed. She said she'd like to too, but was a bit worried about the house situation.

I agreed that it could be a problem, but we decided to go upstairs anyway, to her room, and soon decided to go to bed together, which we proceeded to do, taking our time and making good love. We were both relaxed and comfortable with each other.

Afterwards, at my suggestion, we came to my room and spent the rest of the night together, snuggling closely until we finally fell asleep. We both awoke at about 7 with headaches, but feeling good.

She said it was a "friendly thing" for us to do, and I told her I thought we were good friends.

Today started off sunny, but has clouded over by now.

Monday, March 5, 1973 - 10:40 AM

Yesterday became cloudy and chilly, and was spent mostly recovering and resting from the night before. I went back to bed around noon, and got up again around 4 PM. There was hardly anyone around the house. Pat slept all afternoon too.

Around 4:30 I called Eileen to say hi. She'd been puttering around the house, and was getting ready to have some people over. She said she was feeling better.

Skipped dinner, except for some orange juice and a banana, and watched Casablanca on TV, with Pat, Robin, and Aysé. Later I sat in the kitchen with Mike and Pat, who were having an intellectual rap, then went to bed. Was thinking about Pat a lot, wanting her again soon, fantasizing about our sexual relationship.

Last night I had a dream. An early segment dealt with young Joe Kennedy, who was riding on an elephant on an expedition of some sort, in India, perhaps. We encountered someone else on an elephant and there was a mild dispute about a bird that had been shot. I think the other guy shot the bird, but Kennedy's elephant retrieved it. This part is very vague, however. I was just an observer, perhaps part of Kennedy's expedition.

The scene changed to a watery area with a shore. There were cats around, and small alligators in the water. I was worried about the cats, i.e., that the alligators might get them. One small alligator did grab a cat who was playing in shallow water. I tried to scoop them up on land where the cat could get away, but evidently knocked them into deeper water. They went under and disappeared. I reached down into the water trying to find them and save the cat, but couldn't.

Very soon, a fox entered the scene. Again I was worried about the cats and the children, and I ran at the fox expecting to scare it away. But it turned on me instead, and came at me. I fended it off with a barbecue fork for a few minutes, and called to Penny to help, i.e., to bring me another weapon. It attacked me, biting my hand, but I was able to grab it in a way as to choke it, and I killed it. When it was dead it was like an empty fox skin still attached with its teeth to my hand. I peeled it off, felt satisfied at having successfully defeated it, but sad at having had to kill it. That's all.

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