Hippie Dan

I was definitely born in the wrong era. I should have been born in the 50's to really appreciate the 60's and 70's. I wonder how much of my hippiness is due to me finding myself or was it a result of rebellion. My parents are extremely conservative. Like Hispanic Catholic conservative. It's right up there with Italian Catholic conservative. Don't get me wrong, this isn't some bitch session about my parents. I can pay some therapist $150 an hour to bitch about my parents.

No my friends, you get the free Internet version. I was raised conservative and pretty much groomed to be this perfect catholic republican manager. Texas has this strange ability to brainwash people. If you don't believe me, then take this test.

The stars at night, are big and bright. _ _ _ _ Deep in the heart of Texas.

If you performed four claps in those blank spots above, then you've been brainwashed by Texas society. They sneak it in at an early age. How do you erase thirty years of brainwashing? Everyone I know that is not from Texas looks around and is trying to figure out what the clapping is all about.

Anyway, (damn tangent again) I was born and raised here in Texas. I have never lived anywhere else. Oh, I've moved away. But to College Station. Talk about going from the frying pan to the fire of conservatism. I was always drawn to Austin, but did not dare mention this to anyone in my family. "Only hippies live in Austin". Those are the exact words that my father utters on several occasions.

So you know what dad? I'm one of those damn hippies. Watch ya going do about it now?

I was talking to a friend last week and he is pretty conservative. Seriously, like Eric Cartman conservative. We were talking about something and he just blurts out, "Your a damn hippie". This took me by surprise. I thought about it for a few seconds and then I smiled. "Why yes. Yes I am a hippie and proud of it!" He just shook his head and didn't know what else to say.

I love flip flops, make love not war, love folk music, and now I'm trying to let my hair grow out. I should create a checklist for my full hippie transition.

Beatnik glasses - check
Dashiki shirt - check
Birkenstocks - check
Full beard (in all it's patchy glory) - check
No shower in weeks - check

Ok, I can't possibly skip the showers. I'm too much of a germ neat freak to do that last one. But I'll shorten my showers from fifteen minutes to ten minutes to symbolically represent my lack of showers. Watch out right wingers, there is one more name to add to your watch list of potential enemies of the conservative christian way.