Here is one of the best I saved for last.
I used to live in Sausalito, Ca. It was sometime in 1972. I was only 22 and I worked in a clothing store called "Opening Thursday".
The proprietor was a very sweet woman who allowed me to stay in a small upstairs apartment which was also the fashion department of the store for free. She let me stay as I was homeless at the time. I was only homeless for a day but she helped a great deal so that I would be safe off the streets. I never even had a vehicle until 1976 after I move to New Mexico.
This lady used to design the most beautiful clothes which had an old fashioned twist which was really popular during that time. She used use old tablecloths, old lace and beautiful old fabrics wherever she could find them. The clothes were so beautiful.
During sometime in the summer a fella came in with his girlfriend who wanted to try on the clothing. She picked out several things and she tried them all on while the fella and I talked for a couple of hours. He was so sweet and friendly, one of the nicest people I would ever meet as it turned out. Turned out I was dating the woman's brother, Chris Green. He lived in Mill Valley in the house belonging to Lee Michaels. Lee had 4 or 5 cheetahs roaming the the "backyard". They were as friendly as house cats.
So, it came time to pay for the clothing and the fella wrote a check. As was our store policy, I asked for I.D. He generously provided it without so much as a grumble. I looked at the driver's license and the name hit me like a ton of bricks, Dennis Hopper;
the nice fella I had talked to for hours. I was able to cover up my astonishment and carried on.
I never had seen Easy Rider which was released in 1969. I could never afford go to the movies. I never went unless I had a date who would take me. I knew who he was I just did not make the connection. I guess I never thought I would meet him.
That was a day I won't forget.
Here's a pic of Lee Michaels and a couple of the cheetahs.
