From Glam to Mam Kay Luckett guest writer

I am a Baby Boomer who has followed the motto of my generation, “I will never get old”. That ‘old’ is a state of mind and emotions can be witnesses by the fact that my particular childhood lasted over 52 years. It was fun to be born to the wildly-dressed up generation who worked to legalize Marijuana, who hung out back-stage with rock stars, hitchhiked before it got stigmatized, who fellowshipped at rock concerts high on LSD, and who made the 70’s the loose, no boundaries, “dope, sex, rock ’n roll” era that it was. So suffice it to say, I am often surprised when I look in the mirror and find an old person standing there smiling with a few teeth missing.

I still live by that same motto today with my focus being on growth with a spiritual vision. To tell the truth, much of these 8 decades has been spent with me digging myself out of the emotional and intellectual hole I fell into, back in the day. From growing up in Los Angeles, through the bizarre UC/picketing days in Berkley, the rock days in San Francisco, thru poetry readings at The City Lights Bookstore, following Robert Creeley and Luis Garcia and my poetry obsession, creating various art and writing projects, loving Bob Dylan and yes, some illegal activities which were normalized in the subculture of the time. It is difficult to put it all into a written format though I majored in English Lit at UC Berkley (before I dropped out).

Living under the radar and being a part of society, finally paying my taxes yet still not entirely honest with Uncle Sam has been one (living out loud) art form. And, in the art of preparing for the completion of my stay here on earth which is still the art of living and beyond. Recreating myself from the rebel that I was, learning how to use the “F” word less, learning how to actually shake hands when greeting grown-ups and at age 52 of getting clean and sober and being of service to myself, my family and my neighbors. Recognizing all of humanity as my divine brothers and sisters while peeking into what is called the “fourth dimension”. The very heart and soul of being alive whether here or there…

Adjusting emotionally to every bone in my body aching along with multitudes of annoying and inhibiting medical situations is as challenging as learning not to be an aging narcissist but instead to be a part of humanity and just another, “bozo on the bus”. The bus ride is much more fun than self-obsession and being tied up in the “bondage of self”.

Adjusting is about giving, period. Accepting, Loving, Cooperating. It is about looking out for others and seeing where I can be of service. When that becomes my job, my career, my life (really), then when when I awaken in the morning, I am experiencing the freedom to ask GUS (Great Universal Spirit) to please guide me to the safety and joy of the day and to surrender to whatever or whoever the job is for today.

My thanks to some of my yesterdays.