I went to high school in the 60s. Flower power, psychedelics, exploring other ways of living, thinking and experiencing the universe. Interest in eastern mysticism was huge! My friends and I threw the I Ching. I still have my copy. I owned a copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead and practiced chanting the Bardo Thodol. But the most interesting group were the Theosophists: Rudolph Steiner, Madame Blavatsky and others. Of course there was Wilhelm Reich and Orgone Energy to boost the Sexual Revolution. To say nothing of that South American yam regulating menstrual cycles! Where did we get books like this? I don’t remember the name of the used bookstore. I don’t remember where it was in Coral Gables. But there was Mr. Ledoux.

It was packed with bookshelves and the bookshelves were packed with books and somehow he knew where every single book was in the store. But the strangest part of it all were his eyes. They were a light gray blue. You had a strange feeling when you were in his store with him that something else was going on. His eyes were seeing two planes of existence at once. He was quite spooky. He was our guide to these other explanations of the Universe (and life and the meaning of everything!).

Looking back on my life I don’t know why I didn’t stay in touch with some people or stay on track with some ideas. I wish I had. One friend Ira taught himself how to do astrology charts. His chart for me said there would be trouble with my knees and shoulders. In time that happened. He also said that water would be a significant part of my life. It was in a couple of unusual ways. But the funniest story about Ira doing charts related to a friend who I will not name because she is still around! 

If she reads this I know she’ll recognize herself, but you’ll not know who she is. Her serious boyfriend was away in college. They eventually married and are still together. I was back in Miami. We went to a movie one night. After I took her home we took her dog (unnamed to continue to protect the innocent) for a walk. It was winter which can be quite cold in Miami. I was wearing my old green army field jacket. She had her arm in mine like men and women when they walk together. She said that Ira had just done her chart. 

Her serious boyfriend was Protestant. Ira told her that she would marry a Jewish man before she married her boyfriend. We had another friend who was in band with me, we both played French horn, his name was Jamie.

So my friend said,

“It’s either you or Jamie, Phil“

“It’s not me, Rachel!”

Ooh! Ouch!

An aside about Ira. He played the Viola. I was older than some of my friends so I drive before they did. He needed rides to his music lessons with his teacher. And of course I was glad to offer. I remember the first time we came to Peggy Seeger‘s house. Yes, his music teacher was Pete Seeger sister! Another one of those amazing happenstances in my life which has enabled me to meet so many of the incredible people of our world.