Diary of a Mad Hippie Chapter 7 --Gen. 4 is born!
Dear Diary:
My name is Mint Howle, and this is the story of my life. It's not a happy story, but it's the truth. Guess I'll start at the beginning...
Ever since I can remember my Mom, Nutmeg has been laid back and down to earth. She's stayed home to raise me and worked around the home, making our threads, growing our food, and working in the family store, Bohemian Rhapsody.
My Dad Chance is a groovy parent too, even if he is completely opposite of my Mom. I didn't spend much time with him, because unlike my Mom, he had a job and a life outside of the house, he had always dreamed of a dance career and he was working on making that come true. Some of my friends were a little freaked out seeing him prance around in tights and tutu's, but I didn't sweat over it.
My Grandma Tarragon is quite a trip too. I've never met anyone like her, that's for sure. I think she started to get on my Mom's nerves, because as I got older there became more and more tension in the air. I just wanted them both to mellow out, man.
She is definitely a rockin' Grandma, very cool.
I love my Grandpa Greg too, but he's about as straight-laced as they come. As my Mom would say, he's "wound up tighter than a drum".
I was having a totally groovy childhood as an only child, but with parents like mine it was only a matter of time before I had a sibling. My little brother Tandoori was born, and the poor little dude had to wear all my hand me downs.
I have to say, as much as I adored my parents, they weren't very good at caring for my brother and I. They were both pretty self involved, both too busy for us. Which was not cool.
And yet somehow, amidst all the chaos that was my life, I grew up well.
My Aunt Chase is really far out. When other adults in my life were telling me funky stories and dirty jokes she brought real books over and read them to me for hours. That was a nice way to chill out.
Before I knew it Tan was a toddler, creeping around and getting into trouble.
One day Nutmeg seemed to come out of her haze and realized she had a real father and she wanted him to reunite with Tara. I don't know what she was trippin' on, but she became quite a drag around the house after that.
My Dad was lucky, he got to escape the tension by going to work. He was a World Class Ballet Dancer, he had finally achieved his dream! It was a gas watching him plie around the house!
As far as my baby brother and I, well, we breathed the same air and shared the same DNA, that's about it.
One night we got really scared when we heard a lot of raised voices out in the yard. I recognized my Grandpa Greg's voice, as well as Grandma Tara's "special friend", Uncle Abe.
We sneaked up to the window and saw a lot of slapping and fighting going on, but my Grandma Tara looked calm, so we relaxed and went back to bed.
I remember the next night Grandpa Greg went out shopping, trying to make up to Grandma Tara, probably.
I heard he was cornered by a long line of men waiting to fight him. He was pretty wired when he got home that night.
After that, I never saw my Uncle Abe again, no one knows what happened to him. Heavy stuff!
Long days turned into years, and before I knew it I was a teenager. I was pretty self sufficient and had learned to cook years ago. It's a good thing, too, our house was a happenin' place and there was always a crowd to feed.
Of course, since I grew up, so did Tandoori. As far as little brothers go, he was allright. He was neat and shy, playful and nice, so I really couldn't complain. Just a little square, if you ask me.
Unfortunately I took after Nutmeg and all I could think of was romance. The first boy my age I met I chatted up and wouldn't let him leave til we were good friends! I was definitely on the make, but he wasn't really down with it. At first.
But eventually I snagged my first kiss! That was really groovy!
Of course, it's not easy trying to pick up boys when you have a Mom like mine! Either the boys were disgusted by her "friendliness" or they were turned on. Either way, it wasn't good news for me.
So, as soon as I could I moved to Beatnik University,and before long Tan followed.
Of course Tan had to be different from me, all he wanted out of life was to get married and have kids of his own. Too bad he couldn't flirt his way out of a paper bag. He only had eyes for one girl, Esther Hunt, but it took her a while to warm up to him. Did I mention my brother was really square?
And he's so sensitive! My little brother really needs to toughen up, he can't even handle a simple prank without breaking down. I think he needs the bubble blower from back home to help him mellow out a little bit.
I didn't let much get to me. I was so jazzed to be out of my house, I just wanted some freedom, and I wanted to meet as many men as I could. Away from Nutmeg and her familiar ways.
I found the best way to get good grades wasn't to do your homework...
We started a Greek House and influenced all our peon pledges to do our work for us.
Leaving me more time for what was really important!
Being the kind and friendly guy that he is, Tan eventually got invited to join the Secret Society. I was never invited, but then again, I didn't really care. I wasn't at college to make friends anyway, just to experience as much of life as I possiblly could.
Even with all his new friends Tan stayed true to his heart and only dated one girl, Esther. She finally came around and admitted she liked him too, but I think she's a little odd. She should fit right into our family perfectly then, I guess!
Having a girlfriend really gave Tan that extra confidence he needed to loosen up a little bit, thank goodness.
We had a toga party nearly every night, and sometimes our parents would come too. Most parents would feel uncomfortable with a bunch of drinking, partying young adults, but not ours. Nutmeg fit right in, much to my annoyance. We really stopped getting along years ago, she was always bringing me down.
Parties all night, sleeping all day, we never did get around to cleaning. Guess we were both spoiled having our grandparents clean up after us. I didn't mind the mess, but seeing the vermin often made my delicate brother cry.
Somehow we managed to graduate. I don't know who was more surpised, us or our parents.
Shortly after graduation my Mom stopped in. We still couldn't get along, maybe we were just too much alike. We couldn't even remain friends, no matter how hard I tried. She told me that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to move back home, and I have to admit that I agreed.
So I got a place of my own! I had a college degree, how hard could it be for me to get a good job and start my life on my own? I was so jazzed, but freaked out a little, too. My dream was to become a Professional Party Guest, but I took the first job that popped up because I really needed the money. I got fired shortly after I arrived for my first day. What a downer!
This real life stuff was going to be harder than I thought! I was used to romancing my way through life, not working. I was so bored, and restless, and...
pregnant! Oh man, I nearly flipped my lid when I took a home pregnancy test and it was positive. This was not in my plans, not at all, man! I could barely take care of myself, what was I going to do with a baby?
Well, I soon found out. When my son Sage was born, I thought my attitude would change. But it didn't. I didn't know what I was doing with a newborn baby, and I really didn't want to learn.
I kinda got in a funk, and it was all I could do to get up and get dressed. Sometimes days went by and I couldn't remember if I had fed or changed the baby. I really didn't care, either. I didn't care about anything. I knew I needed to get it together, I just couldn't. The kid was bringing me down!
Then my world came crashing in on me. As much as I didn't feel like Sage belonged to me, I knew that he did. He was a part of me, and I let him down.
I wanted to be a better parent than my mother had been, but I ended up being worse. When I saw the Social Worker at the door, I dropped to the ground and fell into a dark hole. I don't care about anything anymore, I've lost my only reason to live.
So that's the story of my life so far, Diary. I don't know what the future has in store for me, but I have to say, it can only get better from here. I've packed up all my belongings, I sent all my baby stuff to the Goodwill. I've admitted defeat, and I'm moving back home to my parents.
Peace Out Diary. Later.
How does it feel to be on your own,
with no direction home,
like a complete unknown,
like a rolling stone?
Bob Dylan