Stages of Growth

 

1.    My childhood.  From 1947 to 1964. Reoccurring and dominate themes were led by the bitter conflict of a Mormon mother and Traditional Italian grandparents.  A conflict very real and defied resolution. The first imposed and the second a beckon in a storm that remained slightly out of reach, but oh so close.

2.    Beatnik / Hippy rebellion and total lifestyle 1965 – 1972. Drugs, anarchism, existentialism, street life and the never-ending quest for self.

3.    Laborer and Janitor taking classes when I could. 1972 – 1990. Driven by despair while learning that life has no real meaning, except the meaning we choose. Accepting this and avoiding bad faith which always a lie. Learning how to give birth to myself.

4.    Community College Instructor and University Professor. Economic Anthropologist and Political Sociologist. The person I created, the meaning I chose. The life I only dared to dream possible. The competition of the circle.

 

The movement from one stage to the next was total and complete. Never looking back, four completely different people each except first was totally my own choice and creation.

 

The only continuity was socialism. From my earliest memories on. Socialism of both the Marxist and Anarchist verities. Even before I discovered the meaning of those terms.