Hey all you non-conformists! Let me  convince you conformity is merely an idea pushed by mass media- conformity really only exists in things like commercials and font sizes. In defining yourself as a non-conformist you really just make a reactionary statement giving credit to those institutions whose ideals you are attempting to rebel against:

     I went on a lovely walk today down to the local market. A 50 something store clerk in uniform caught me smelling a bottle of peppermint castile soap. He asked:

     "Is there anything I can help you find?"

     "No, but I really love the new health food section here. You have five different kinds of organic wine for under ten dollars. Organic shade grown coffee and local raw honey. That's great."

     "Yeah, I started working here about six months ago. You know, I ride my bike to work 6 miles  every day. We  put in this health food section and buy bio-degradable plastic bags now." He enthusiastically added "If there's anything you guys ever need, or are looking for, you can ask the store manager and he'll get it for you."

One thing led to another. We spoke about bio-diesel, gas prices, community, health, etc. . .

The clerk got a little twinkle in his eye. He started talking shyly about not eating or buying corn syrup- for your health. . . but also because we vote with our dollars. He adjusted his glasses a little, and invited me to walk up to the check out counter. He pulled out an old grocery sack, ripping it into pieces.

He wrote down some information on it for me to look into; I did the same for him. Little ink scribblings. A map of information leading to gateways, leading to entire treasure trunks of mind opening information.

My point is this:

Independently thinking people are everywhere. When I met this checker, I wasn't at a hippie new wave convention. I was at a locally owned grocery store in a christian, republican suburb. The butcher I spoke with on the phone last month who wants to make 25,000 gallons of biodiesel from his wastes. . .illegaly in a pit- he lives in a conservative populous agricultural area. Theres no such thing as the average American Joe, I am convinced. "The Average Joe" exists only in the ideals of mass media, in the font sizes and gmo vegetables.

It's easy to get pissed when you watch the news, make assumptions about crowds, let media get to you. But when you go out into the world and talk with the local butcher, baker or candlestick maker. . .you (generally) find amazing people doing the best they can with what they have. And the best I can do to affect them is to let them know there are other people out there who want things to be better too. (they don't have to feel like the black sheep just for wanting things to make  sense) There are even a ton of other people out there DOING things to make it better. Even if it's just being friendly enough to talk with a stranger.

So here's a quick mental list that is in no way exhaustive of some of the people I've run into in our travels who are doing something to make our world neighborhood a little better:

Bob- who is a professional at spreading shameless fun,Donna- who raises goats in Bisbee and sings about it ,Carolyn- for envisioning positive change
The Renaissance House-giving hope to those who need it, Noah- spreading smiles through performance while living green and gently.
Frejya- the smartest gal I've ever met. Converted her bus to veggie oil, sews and sells her own clothes, forages, walks on stilts and makes money doing it all.
Marley-It's OK to be a sexy man, and gentle at the same time.(thanks for the wild licorice fern roots)
Katie Grey and the veg. oil tour bus- fearless and beautiful
The folks from Lolo hot springs festival- see above
Ben, Jeremy, Ryan, Feather, John in the Cascades, Ann, Erin and Terrance and Alden, John at Barneys Super Market, Elicia at Fresh Abundance, Adam, Aiko and Justin and Mariko,
Dave- refusing to buy new, refusing to do anything that doesn't make sense
Steve out in the desert, The Pickathon Music Festival locally powered biodiesel stage,
My mother- who now gardens organically, raises her own chicken eggs, bought a hybrid vehicle (all in high heels), Natalie who got her office to start a recycling program, Diane Gibby and Tera who introduced us to solar power, among many other things, the city of missoula for planning so wisely; John's sister, Ann, who taught me to seal jars with beeswax(thereby re-using the lids), Marlee Mountain who taught me about the personalities of the forest (otherwise known as wild edibles), Jonathan Fournier and crew from the film school who attempted to walk across the country, Ken and Paula who lived in a bus and now live in a boat out there somewhere, the beautiful and strong women of Hot Springs, MT who are brave enough to see past differences for the sake of community, the folks in Eugene, OR who share streetside gardens with those in need, The twelve tribes commune in Nelson, BC- they are proving anyone can live together peacefully with the earth, Cedar in Santa Cruz for refusing to be un-enthusiastic, Jezebel and Jill in Santa Rosa for refusing to play by the rules, John in CDA who is letting new growth happen- opening himself up to a new way of thinking, Susie- who so selflessly loves, Patrick the Fishermen for catching the biggest stories and dreaming for the stars "so if you trip, you won't skin yer nose." And Ruthie who "visualizes the end result, not the obstacles". And Pearl who makes sure Ruthie doesn't trip over any while she's visualizing.Even Captain Bob who doesn't ever buy plastic bags.

So,you see. . .The Pink Bus isn't just us. We all journey together, learn from each other, share our experiences. That's what keeps The Pink Bus going. . .well, pretty shiny things really help, too.

See you at the Sagle Swap This weekend!

B 

It's springtime and the powers that be are cleaning out the old to make room for the new. I feel the west wind blowing and the fresh buds growing. There is nothing I can think of that smells more heavenly than a cottonwood grove in spring. The buds produce a red sappy resin that smells. . .well, sweet and swampy all at once. But- like a clean swamp- think poplars and sunshine and pollywogs. Not alligators and murky water.

Summers around the corner and the festival circuit has begun. What's really wonderful about the festivals is everybody is pretty much set on having a good time. This generally dispels fear and anxiety, so even the biggest catastrophies work out in the end: Liz found her purple underwear lying on the road, the wallet was mailed back, and the young lion found friends in unexpected places. If you think Jesus' trick with the loaves of bread was cool. . .you shoulda seen June and I in the bus with this pot of chili. We came up with around sixty meals from what started out as nothing.

To me, Family means people who accept each other and help each other out, no matter what the situation. And when you realize that we're all family, things get beautiful. Instantaneously. Sometimes all it takes is slowing down to acknowledge the other persons beingness. Try it on the person at checkout line in any store. It's amazing what a real slow, deliberate smile can do. I tell ya, it can create more energy in an entire room than those powdered vitamin drinks can make in one little cup. Whatever we focus on expands. That's why it is so important to visualize the end results and not the obstacles.

I realize many of us already think this way. So when I hear somebody else talk like people and what they do matters, it solidifies what I already know. But many people are just going around and around in their own mind, in their own space, their own world. It's truly easier to just ignore them- and focus on my own little happy world. Tell ya what though- to witness somebody get their entire idea of reality rocked by recieving love, hospitality acceptance from a stranger is pretty cool. I'm not talking hippy missionaries here. Just being courageous enough to let go of what you think is acceptable, redefine each moment as it happens and allow yourself to experience the bliss that is simply being. It transforms people from a gray, passive non-present energy to the most beautiful, colorful conscious alive beings.  

Auntie Pearl sums it up the best: Shameless Fun. Ruthie says "if you can't take it, take a nap."

So. . .beautiful journeys to everyone in this strange little electronic land. We miss you Bob.

Becca

 

a picture of real superheroes in action

The Festival was fun. What's better than live music, all your friends and Hot springs soakin?

Traveling through Montana now. Up to some other hot springs and on to the gem show in Idaho.

Happy Trails!