I couldn’t leave for San Francisco without re-reading (for possibly the twentieth time) “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” the title essay in Joan Didion’s collection of essays written between l961 and l976. Like many of the essays, “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” dwells on the social upheavals of the ‘60s, concentrating on a specific area, Haight-Ashbury—home to runaways, flower children, hippies. Through a series of interviews and conversations with the locals, Didion captures that decade perfectly and memorably. It’s hard to believe that it was written in 1967—forty-five years ago. Well, the travel book said that there are still some aging hippies hanging around the Haight, and judging from the photos, the atmosphere still lingers. I know my sisters and I will enjoy the journey back. Peace.
~ Chris
Read it or Weep 