The Dana Street Saga

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

Sunday, April 29, 1973 - Noon

I went to bed around 7 PM to rest up before going out later, if I felt up to it. Got up around 9:30, still undecided about whether to or not. Some others in the house were also planning to go dancing at Hard Times (LaValle's Basement), and though I really thought I wanted to be on my own, I eventually decided to go with them, and was glad that I did.

Arlene, Marty, and Dennis, who was tripping, went too. We snorted some coke first, my first time for that, but I didn't really feel it that much. We also got stoned.

We took two cars for mobility, with Arlene riding with me. When we got there, there were no tables or chairs left, so we stood in a back corner near another table where some black dudes were putting the hustle on a couple of nice looking white girls. They were sort of trapped in there.

I met them though, Lori and Nancy. I really dug Lori. She's blonde, reminded me a bit of Cookie, but warmer, more mellow. We talked awhile upstairs. She's going back to Arizona soon, though, which she really digs.

We rapped about nature, peyote, Mescalito. She told me to be sure to eat some peyote. We got really friendly, and she was going to give me her number before she left, but didn't.

But that was just as well, as I met another outasite girl, with whom I ended up spending the night.

In the meantime, in addition to Lori and Nancy, I also met Hella and Fifi, who were discussing "scoopers," who are overeager picker-uppers. I allowed as I was sometimes a scooper myself, and Hella dug my honesty and asked my name. Then I met Darcy, and finally, Meredith.

Also, there were some strange episodes happening around that table. One of the black dudes found a twenty dollar bill on the floor. Another said he lost it. The first wouldn't give it to him, and an ugly scene was brewing.

I intervened, and finally persuaded the dude that the money wasn't his anyway, so why not give it to the guy who said it was? By this time, they were calling each other "nigger," but finally he gave it to the other dude, after all. I felt good about being able to handle the situation.

Later, at the table, however, Lori was upset because her friend Nancy's wallet was taken from her purse, and that was a bummer.

Dennis was tripping, taking it all in, and we rapped from time to time. He gave his wallet to me for safe-keeping.

Other than the dispute at the table, it was a fine scene. Dixie Peach was playing, and they were pretty good, though not up to the Rockets.

I don't remember how I met Meredith. I guess I ran into her on the way back from the Men's room and she looked friendly, so I asked her name, but then split until later, when I looked for her to dance with, and practically cut in on another guy she'd been talking with, but who hesitated too long in starting to dance again.

We danced the last couple of dances, and I asked if she wanted a ride home, and she said sure. So I found the others, and they all went home with Marty, and I left with Meredith.

A girl outside asked for a ride, "to get away from those creeps," a few black dudes who were hanging out on the corner, so we gave her a ride home, then went to Meredith's house.

Oh yes, earlier I'd asked if I could call her, and she'd given me her number, which I'd memorized (527-2820).

She asked if I'd like to come in for awhile, and I said sure. So we came in, smoked a joint, listened to some Joni Mitchell, and I eventually kissed her at the sink, and we soon got close.

I told her I'd really like to stay with her, and she consented, so we eventually went to her room, undressed each other and ourselves, and climbed up into her bed. She had one of those loft beds with a desk underneath.

We caressed and lay close for a long time, before starting to make love. She held me while I caressed her, so I didn't have any erection problems. So I finally entered her and we made love for a long time.

I wasn't reaching a climax, and eventually seemed to be getting softer, so we stopped after a long time. Eventually I got hard again inside her, and we eased into a slow gentle rhythm. She finally reached a climax, but I still didn't until after another long pause and rearousal, when I finally did.

All in all, it was incredibly nice. Meredith has a beautiful body, and I dig her so much. I felt we'd really made beautiful love together.

9:15 PM Continuing...

Afterwards we lay together for a long time. We talked awhile. I'd told her about my situation, marriage, daughter, etc. She told me she'd been married too, and it would have been four years this Thursday.

Her husband has another girlfriend now, though, and they never had much time for each other, as they were both very busy. They evidently have an amicable relationship now.

She said she's open to remaining "lovers" with him, but he's evidently not. Also she has occasional other lovers.

Finally we tried to go to sleep, entwined together, and though she seemed to sleep, I don't think I did. I was so high on being with her and just supersensitive to her closeness that I wasn't about to fall asleep. Her four cats were up around the bed too; Squirrel, Sunshine, Chelsea, and Coco.

We got up fairly early, 8:30 or so, took a shower together, got dressed, and she made me some pancakes. I washed the dishes. While I was having breakfast, one of her roommates came out, and it was Leslie, whom I'd known from last year.

After awhile, I drove her over here to see my room, then home again, as she had some things to do today.

She's working on a mermaid sculpture. She told me she's a mermaid. I told her I'm an eagle. (This was while we were still at Hard Times.)

This feels like the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. I'm in love with her already, but haven't said so yet, though I've told her I sure do dig her, a number of times. And she's seemed very open to me, warm, responsive, loving. So I hope she can fall in love with me. I feel pretty confident that she likes me pretty well though.

Today, after dropping her home around noon, I came home, played some chess with Mike.

Penny and Cici brought Steve and Madelaine over to meet me, and to get the VW bus.

Then I took a nap around 3 and slept, or tried to sleep, 'til about 8. We went on daylight savings time last night, so it was still light.

I called Meredith. Her other roommate's coming home from Vancouver tonight. She worked on her sculpture today and other things. She's also a ballet dancer, and is studying at both Laney College and Cal State Hayward.

She's busy all day Monday 'til 9 at night. I made a date to pick her up at 9 at Laney. She seemed glad.

I hope this can develop into a full-fledged relationship. We seem to have a lot in common in our ways of being. She's into the I Ching, also Hesse, whom she really digs, and her art. I dig her so.

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