Hippieland Vol. 4

"Keep those coconuts hangin', coconuts!" I exclaim as I end the live feed of The Hippie Beachbum Show as "Franklin's Tower" by Grateful Dead plays in the background.

I get up and heads towards the studio door. I enter the common room and head toward the back exit onto the beach. I sit on a reclined beach chair and relax with a joint. Kenny walks up.

"Good show today," He says.

"Yeah, it was groovy," I respond. "I'm very pleased with how it went, it was a good flow."

Kenny walks away. Dusty, a resident poet, walks up and sits in the reclined beach chair next to me. He's in his early thirties, lean and lanky, with dirty blonde hair.

"What's happenin', Hippie?" He asks.

"Just relain' and bakin' a bit," I tell him. "Have you been writing today?"

"I have," he says, "Came up with a couple of poems so far. Going to edit them later. I saw the show, very good one today. What time do you have?"

"Thanks, it's 4:20 somewhere!" I respond as I take a puff of my joint.

"Always," He exclaims as he takes out and lights a joint.

"Are you going to be at the open mic tonight?" I ask.

"I'm thinking about it," he responds, "I have some newer material I can present. I'm recording some of my poems tomorrow."

"Groovy," I tell him. "I have to get going, The Magic Bus will be here soon and I have to check the prep for the bonfire on Starshine Beach. Stay groovy, Dusty!"

I head to the front entrance. Cassidy, a lady in her fifties who has a lean figure and red hair, stands waiting for the bus.

"Hey Hippie!" She says.

"Cassidy, how's it goin'?" I ask.

"Pretty good, got some painting done." She tells me, "I heard the show today, good job."

"Thanks," I respond, "Are you going to the bonfire tonight?"

"Probably," she says.

The Magic Bus pulls up and people depart from the bus. Some are in beachwear. I board after Cassidy, nodding at Daisy and Butterfly as I make my way to my seat. "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," by The Beatles starts on the sound system. People have boarded and the bus departs. The ride to Starshine Beach takes thirty minutes.

Starshine Beach, on the west side of the island, is the busiest early evening beach as it holds marvelous sunsets. There's a hostel, The Coconut Hut, based off of Gram's Place in Tampa, FL, with a natural setting right on the left side of beach. It even has a huge palm tree in the middle of the hostel. On the right side of the beach, Paradise Hotel holds it's residence. The hotel, shaped in a horseshoe with a pool, is a premier party spot on the island. The beach itself is covered with white sand. There are a couple of small areas for those to visit and relax on the beach.

I depart The Magic Bus and walk towards the middle of Starshine Beach where some volunteers are setting up the night's bonfire. I walk upon the beautiful white sand that blends perfectly with the turquoise water. People are gathering already for the day's sunset. Sunsets here are a magical experience. The way the orange hue blends into a stunning mixture of pink and peach is spectacular. It makes minutes seem like hours while the colors explode upon the sky. Who could ask for anything so beautiful?

"Hippie," is called out by Izzy, a big, burley Samoan.

"How are the coconuts, Izzy?" I say as he approaches my smelling like gasoline.

"Low and left," he responds, "The fire is ready to be lit."

"Groovy," I tell him.

Izzy walks away as I observe people gathering around for the sunset. Looking around, I reflect on the events of the day and smile. I make my way to an empty beach chair and take a seat. While relaxing, the sun sets over the ocean having the amazing colors paint the sky. The silence during the sunset is quite peaceful. I light up a joint as the sunset finishes. The bonfire is lit and music seeps through the area. A makeshift band of musicians begin an acoustic performance around the bonfire. I soak in the atmosphere for a couple of hours before catching The Magic Bus back home. It's been a fantastic New Year's Day!

To be continued........