In 1986, when I was a moody teen sporting a mohawk, combat boots, and an "Abolish Apartheid" t-shirt, I bought one of those postcards with two punks kissing, and tacked it to the wall in my room. Yesterday, I saw two of my friends; all shaved, charged, & studded, sharing a smooch, and I thought to myself, "watching real live punks kiss is much nicer than those old postcards."
Back in the 80's, some of my punk-er cohorts sat downtown, flying signs that read "Take a picture with a punk: $5," or something like that. I still have a passing acquaintance with a few of those "postcard punks," through the years, and have met many more from around the country, since then,(though in the 80's, I did not use that term as lovingly as I do now), and I was noticing how we'd changed.
Many of us are parents, and have toned down the appearance, for
employability's sake, and also because we're tired. We dress our wee ones in tiny pleather jackets & Misfits t-shirts, and look forward to our days off, when we can deck ourselves out and take our kids to the skate park.
Most of us have decided that our years of substance abuse
were a huge waste, though many still struggle with addictions. A whole bunch of funerals later, I have lost my tolerant attitude toward debauchery.
As the look has become an accepted fashion "genre," and is no longer postcard-worthy, we have come to feel ourselves as a tribe, gathering younger generations into our ranks, as did our few-but-inspiring forbearers, and creating institutions based on our ethos: Zine symposiums. Freeskools. Radical parenting groups. Food Not Bombs.
RIGHT ON, My Sisters & Brothers!
I don't know what my conscious thoughts were, at 15, staring at that postcard. I think I just thought it was REALLY SEXY. I was not aware of how much I yearned for the company of my tribe...for a people whose lingo included such phrases as "Benefit Party," "House Meeting," and "Food Not Lawns." Watching my friends kiss, I was acutely aware of them as people, not just peacocks...more like peacock people. Really Rad ones.
It seemed like I should have felt like a voyeur, and yet I didn't. 'Cause I really want to live in a world where people make out in public all the time, and it's not a big deal. Where good dogs are allowed to trot around without leashes; where every kid can identify all the edible plants in any given alley by the time they're 5 or 6; and mentally ill & addicted people are cared for, instead of punished.
And the way this place seems to be crawling with punks, that world seems like it could be right around the corner...
This was so heart warming to
This was so heart warming to read that I feel like crying! Thank you for writing this. I was a late bloomer punk having not been exposed to it until I was in my early 20's. The influence it had on me is present today. I wasn't a punk in the sense of fashion, it was more about the anarchist organizing, conscious living, politics - meaning I was a plan Jane punk-rocker.
food not lawns!
hah! how'd i miss that one! awesome! i love it! can i possibly put more exclamation points in one line?!?!?!?! yes, i can!
sorry. little exhausted and quirky this morning.
my ex is a 39yo punk rocker who's finally almost finished with law school so this made me think of him. he actually stopped by the house last night to do laundry and was wearing one of his old sleeveless band shirts. i had to giggle because he looked good and yet out of place because tho he's a handsome lad who's aging well, he definitely doesn't look 20 anymore.
he has a great blog tho that he's been writing about the dayton punk scene. some of you punk mamas might appreciate it:
http://irememberdayton.blogspot.com/
he's a strong writer, so they're fun to read, even if you weren't part of the dayton 80s and 90s punk scene (which i wasn't). oh, and look, the top blog is one of his old videos
i have to tell you, it's hilarious watching these old clips. goodness! for context, mr. punk rocker was also a teacher for ten years, has an obsession with russian literary giants, and does origami. his drawbacks are he won't ride a bike or eat veggies, hence part of the demise of our relationship. sigh.
oh, but yes, as long as we have punk culture in the world, it's an ok place. now, i have to check out food not lawns ... scuse me ...
metal fingers!
I love your post. we are still here, just slightly transformed. there's nothing that brings more joy to my heart than the sight of a young punk rock girl (not of the mall punk variety, i'm talking pure gutter punk here).
locally speaking, some folks from the local housing and food co-op just started a Food not Lawns! We planted currant bushes and apple trees in someone's yard last week, it was beautiful. while my punk rock-ed-ness has shifted its focus as I age, that spirit is still with me.
Thanks.
"revolution is not a one time event" Audre Lorde
"revolution is not a one time event" Audre Lorde
I love the gutter punks.
I love the gutter punks. The stinkier the better.
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. - Chinese Proverb
That sounds so awesome.
"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself"DT Suzuki
"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself" DT Suzuki
right on
nicely written post.
Check out my daily photo journal:
http://ocim.livejournal.com/
And my new dinner blog:
http://meeshelsdinnerblog.blogspot.com/
Check out my daily photo journal:
http://ocim.livejournal.com/
I hear the whole toned down thing
But I'm feeling super mischievous lately. Last week in dietetics class, the theme was "eat it, don't mow it"...and we all brought in a little piece of our garden (or lawn). Super dandelion greens and peppergrass salads with balsamic and a little feta. It was delicious!
Thanks for the beautifully written post!
"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself"DT Suzuki
"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself" DT Suzuki
what are you refrencing. Can
what are you refrencing. Can I really eat dandelions?
If your lawn is not sprayed
You can eat the dandelion greens. They are really bitter, so it's best to make a dressing with a little bit of honey in it, as the sweet will cover up the bitter a little. Some goat cheese or feta goes a long way, as well as some tomatoes, or even pears.
The bitter flavor is good for consolidating and moving energy down....so it's best to eat it in the fall, and also good for people suffering from constipation, or stuckness in the abdomen. However, dandelion greens can be eaten at any time they are growing, as it's supposed to be best to eat locally and seasonally!!1
"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself"DT Suzuki
"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself" DT Suzuki
i can relate
your post was really affirming and i want to find people here, where i live that are part of my lost tribe. i heard my old hometown has a new food not bombs...i have to visit and see how that is going!