Hell wrote:
> As a complete outsider, ie. being born in 1966, and living on the other
side
> of the world, I just wondered if maybe the differences between Kakki's
> experiences and others were/are a locational thing?
> I also seem to recall some interviews around the Woodstock time with
people
> in New York who "didn't get" the whole West Coast thing?
>
> I'm probably wrong, but I just thought, "maybe Kakki and Lori are both
> right"?
You are an astute "outsider" Hell, and you are quite right.. My take on it
is that we native Californians of that time *did* come up in a different
dimension of sorts. At the very high risk of inviting scorching flames, the
"scene" we experienced at the time was in many ways a few years ahead of the
rest of everyone else. Maybe it was due to some kind of metaphysical
coordinates, or unique longitude and latitude but it did seem that
everything "happened" first in California for many years and many various
entities were always studying us to try to figure out why. There are many
factors that came together to create the dynamic (lots of sunshine and nice
weather = more goof off and easy down time to relax = more free time for
creativity; eclectic and diverse demographics, industries that attracted
creative, progressive and pioneering individuals, and there was a sense of
newness that was not hampered or repressed by ingrained traditions, and
which afforded people more freedom in many ways - "the sky's the limit") but
I don't think anyone will ever find a complete explanation for the
phenomenom. Ultimately it doesn't make anyone "wrong" or "right" but
peoples' experience and personal "truth" does vary widely depending on
location to some extent. When I first left to go to college in Arizona, I
was always immediately identified as being from California - we were like
alien beings. People would be fascinated and comment on the clothes I wore -
I stood out there whereas I would have faded into the crowd in L.A. I think
it's changed these days - with our instant and more sophisticated
communications, TV, internet, etc., everyone's is on on the latest trend
pretty much at the same time, but back then there was more of a "time
delay". ;-)
Kakki
