I wanted to be a Hippy.
As you may imagine, conflict ensued.I did play football but also had long hair, wore jeans with holes in the knees and learned to play guitar.
Dad spent the better part of two years shaking his head without speaking every time he saw me.
Fast forward four decades.
I love football, have long hair, have forsaken jeans for black running (only when necessary) and still play guitar.
On Tuesday nights I go to Monty Park's Acoustic Jam at Doc's Bar and play with old Hippies, Hippy want-a-be's, and people who missed out on being a Hippy and are trying to make up for it.
It's a lot of fun though a suspiciously large number of players are stuck in the 70s, poring their hearts out with James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel and Meryl Haggard when he was at his most un-cool-ness.
Anyway, last night our friend Lona sang a song by Melanie who played at the original Woodstock qualifying her for a lifetime Hippy Achievement Award.
Lona did a great job and everybody sings along to a song that really has nothing to do with roller skates.
"Hey," I say after she finishes, "y'all heard Melanie and Miley Cyrus? It's great!"
A chorus of old Hippies, Hippy wanna-be's and people who missed out on being a Hippy exclaim in unison, "YOU LISTEN to MILEY CYRUS?" ... like I'm scum or a Hippy who doesn't bathe in a dirty, plastic bag filled ocean.
Now in addition to being a musician, shamelessly promoting his own band by wearing his new and very cool "Marsh Puppies Band" tee shirt, Monty Parks is an elected official experienced in making up truth when there none to be found.
"Of course he does," Monty says. "He lives with 3 little girls."
"Damn," I mutter to Greg who was definitely not a Hippy and never will be, "Monty's right."
"I'll be damn," Greg mutters back in military precision.
Chris Desa breaks into an incredible performance of "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles shutting everyone up because none of us can play it and it pisses us off.
But it was another great night of a little over two hours of peace and music at Monty Parks Acoustic Jam.
Well ... until Jim Simmons answers his phone in the middle of a song so his wife Sherri can tell him she's not coming.
