SUMMER OF LOVE 1967 - FAROUT TRIPPY TIMES

HAVE YOU BEEN EXPERIENCED? 

Ah! But are you experienced?

Have you ever been experienced?

Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful...

- Jimi Hendrix - 

San Francisco's Summer of Love in 1967 

I was experienced during that historical time and yes it was groovy and far out!! 

Recently, I went to the Summer of Love (1967) art exhibition at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. How many memories flooded back. GO! If you can, it is well worth the experience. Wear a flower in your hair. 

It blew my mind I actually lived that experience so many are curious about and interested in. As I say, I was a product of my environment, take it as you will when you read my novels (read more below about them).

A time and place in history where all who wanted were free to experience beyond what society told them to be. 

I was living in San Francisco before and after the Summer of Love and part of the Haight/Ashbury scene. Both my novels,  "City of Redemption" (set in San Francisco during the Summer of Love. Read more about it below) and "The Skye in June"(1950's to 1964- the early days of "the movement" as it was called) give the reader a view of social and political changes during those times.

Summers in San Francisco are usually foggy and windy with sunny days here and there. That didn't keep the flower children from dancing, often near naked, in streets (see Chapter 14 below) and Golden Gate park for the free concerts. 

Flower power ignites into firepower 
when a lonely young woman

entangles herself in a treacherous plot and murder 
during the Summer of Love.

My book, City of Redemption is an enthralling novel about the turbulent days of the 1960's free sex, drugs, rebellion and murder. Set in San Francisco during the Summer of Love the story's voice gives vivid  color and power to an unforgettable time and place in history. 

As fun and peace making as it was, it wasn't all love and flowers in the hair - oh no! The strong plot and dialogue of City of Redemption exposes the seldom seen seedy side of the Summer of Love. 

Posters Exhibit Summer of Love

In 1967, partly to blame for her young son's death, Liz flees Scotland to San Francisco. She wants to lose herself with free love among the groovy people. Instead, she is unwittingly drawn into the dark underbelly of violence and addiction with a callous drug-dealer and a treacherous plot to bring down the Black Panthers.  Her unlikely friendship with Black Panther Toni Bordeaux, leads Liz to redemption for her shameful past.

There’s something happening here.

What it is, ain’t exactly clear.

Buffalo Springfield's song, “For What It’s Worth”, were often taken up as a battle cry for the turbulent times. 

To view more about this historical novel see www. june ahern dot com

To buy at Amazon or CreateSpace.com

Amazon.com US http://amzn.to/1U0fUHh     Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1PKypdo

Chapter 14

San Francisco

From the Haight to Eureka Valley

July 11 1967 – Midday

MIDWAY DOWN THE 33 Ashbury bus, Liz sat forlornly, looking out the window at the dreary San Francisco summer fog. Uncombed hair hung loosely around her face and landed on the shoulders of a wrinkled, white peasant blouse. She wore no make-up. Two teen girls sitting in front of her laughed about the stories they told to get out of school for the day. The girls, like so many young people coming from the suburbs for the day to be part of the action, lied to their parents about their whereabouts. Then they complained about how they hadn’t expected such cold weather in the summer, and wished they’d dressed warmer. Both wore light cotton blouses, long flowing skirts and sandals. Liz realized she didn’t feel the cold. She didn’t really feel much of anything except the growing need to make some money. Her bellbottom jeans, slung low on her hips, were tattered from constant wear. Patting the large leather bag on her lap, she thought of the red-beaded earrings she’d made that morning, hoping somebody would buy them today. 

... the parade of people dressed in tie-dyed tee shirts, jeans, long flowing dresses, and flowered wreaths. Here and there bare chests were painted with blue and red paint or big flowers. They were too stoned to feel the fog’s damp sprinkles. Banging on pots, they danced around wildly, and waved placards reading MAKE LOVE NOT WAR and U.S. OUT OF VIETNAM. Laughing and singing they were oblivious to the blocked traffic. 

The raucous singing drifted through open windows on the bus. The words conveyed the unrest of the young people in the United States.

There’s something happening here.

What it is, ain’t exactly clear.

There’s a man with a gun over there, 
telling me I got to beware.

(Cont'd in novel) 

 Read more about this story and my other books at juneahern. com

Hubby and me at the DeYoung Exhibit 6/14/17