Many Years Ago...

TALES of AMHERST: OCTOBER 25, 1968

Fall in Western Massachusetts can be strange. Sometimes it is cold as hell and sometimes it is Indian Summer warm.

October 1968 was Indian Summer warm. What this meant, at that time, was all good hippies could jounce and bounce in the fresh air of the world.
In the late 60’s there was a guy in San Francisco by the name of Owsley. His avowed purpose in life was the production and distribution of chemically pure LSD.
My good friend Patrick traveled to SF to procure as much of this Acid as humanely (and financially) possible
Owsley was not a greedy man; he was, in his own mind, a prophet. (Ken Kesey had told him as much!) So, Patrick came away with a shitload of goodies.
Patrick was able to score several hundred hits of Owsley acid and returned to Amherst armed and dangerous.
Now, it is important to realize that during this period, drugs, such as LSD, were not marketed for profit. Rather, they were distributed to facilitate the party, the experience..
On October 25, 1968, my good friend Patrick laid three hits on me. In Owsley terms this was approximately 1500 micrograms.
So, what was significant about October 25^th?

BIG BROTHER and the HOLDING COMPANY!!!!

Janis Joplin was without a doubt the sexiest and most talented white blues singer. The album had reached number 1 and the airplay as insane!

My friend Mad John was a media major, and as such, he was responsible for all the house sound/PA work.
Mad John was able to get me into the Cage (the University of Massachusetts event arena) prior to the Big Brother concert.
I brought a fifth of Southern Comfort, because I had been told that Janis liked it.
I met Janis and told her how much I enjoyed her music. I offered her the bottle of Southern Comfort.
She took the bottle and swigged like a sailor. When she came up for air she said: "Ooooh, ain’t you just the sweetest thang! Then she slapped her lips on mine, and gave me the kiss of a lifetime. I swear her tongue tickled my kidneys.
I’d like to report that I was able to sexually encounter Janis. However the truth is that after that most incredible kiss, Mr. Owsley’s chemistry kicked in and the rest of the night is a fog.
This much I do know and can still remember:
On October 25, 1968, I was lip locked with Janis Joplin. I wish I could do it again!