;)
Wednesday
Apr232008
4-20
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 3:34PMHuckdoll & Mr. Lady Productions presents:
Founded at San Rafael High School, in 1971, among a group of about a dozen pot-smoking wiseacres who called themselves the Waldos, who are now pushing 50.
The term was shorthand for the time of day the group would meet, at the campus statue of Louis Pasteur, to smoke pot. Intent on developing their own discreet language, they made 420 code for a time to get high, and its use spread among members of an entire generation.
I sat high above the city in my cozy warm office on a gloriously sunny Sunday. April 20.
I loaded 10 children, myself, and one grumpy dad with a credit card into a beautiful stretch limousine on a glorious, sunny Sunday, April 20 to celebrate the first decade of my little boys life.
The clock read 4:15PM when I heard the whomp, whomp, beep of the Vancouver Police department motorcycles. I looked down into the intersection to see them setting up street barricades and re-directing traffic.
I wondered who was in town or what was going on this time.
We wondered why traffic was still so backed up.
Was it the Queen of England again?
We thought maybe there was something going on, and seriously regretted not having opened the paper that morning.
Did a crane at the construction site across the street, fall again?
Perhaps it was the Prime Minister. But on a Sunday?
It's a Sunday for Christsake. There's never anything happening on a Sunday downtown.
I figured it must be the 2010 Winter Olympic Committee rollin' through town again. Those guys and gals seem to be more important that the Queen lately.
So, I headed downstairs to discover. It was 4:20. I stood in front of my building, in the crowd of people; quiet, peaceful, alive.
It was a little after half-past 4 when our limo came to a crawl through the city. We had purposely planned our party to just avoid the congestion from the Sun Run, but apparently, we misjudged. The streets were full of people; smiling, basking in the delicious weather, eating snacks. We passed building after building on our way through the city, and I imagined being one of those people standing on the sidewalk in front on them. Quiet, peaceful, alive. I looked at my limo full of squealing children and for a second, I wanted to trade with just one of them. The kids for the job.
I smelled it before I saw it...
We figured it was just a gorgeous day, and as we tooled through GasTown, as we passed the Olympic clock, as we headed for False Creek and our birthday cruise, we remembered why this is the greatest city on Earth. The people; the flood of people always outside, always on foot, always chill. We sat back, relaxed, and let it flow. In hindsight, maybe we had left a window cracked open....
A cloud of smoke gently rolled down the street and filled my lungs, followed by at least two hundred, happy, smiling, stoned citizens of this fine city.
Photo courtesy of the remarkably talented, local photographer Mark Feenstra. More captures of this event can be found by clicking on the above photo.
Photo courtesy of Mark Feenstra.
Photo courtesy of Mark Feenstra.
I watched and remembered my own presence every April 20th at 4:20 on a grassy patch of lawn at the art gallery, passing around joints with friends and strangers. I think that was the closest I'll ever get to my mom's generation.
On our way home, with a dozen kids in tow, we sat on the crowded train wondering who had lit a joint. There was definitely something in the air. Annoyed, we looked around to find the culprit. Slowly, we realized...everyone was stoned out of their minds. Even the kids, packed too close to the other commuters, starting to lick the handrails and eat their own train tickets. We are definitely too old for this crap.
A generation which founded this lovely 420 thing...
Freaking Vancouver, man. You can't even take your kids out for a day on the town without getting a contact high...
A generation filled with peace, love respect and unity. Something that is so very lost in today's society.
And then we remembered the smiles. We remembered the way the boat driver had nonchalantly relinquished his seat at the helm to our son, and let him pull the boat into port. The way we assumed his squint was from the sun bouncing off the water.
I smiled as I watched the Vancouver Police redirected traffic and allowed this peaceful event happen and my heart swelled yet again for this extraordinary city.
I smiled as I watched the other passengers wink at my kids, all ten kids, who were coming down from a sugar high, picking their noses, yelling a little too loud. I watched and waited for the eye-rolls and the huffs of annoyance, and they never came. What I saw was a mob of people, doing what they wanted to do, without fear. I saw a city that was swayed together, that opened its arms to everyone; police, hippies, business-women on street corners, ragged mothers, over-sugared children.
I'm still so in love with Vansterdam.
I'm still so in love with Vansterdam.
Reader Comments (37)
Yes, I agree :D
Huckdoll's last blog post..http://huckdoll.blogspot.com/2008/04/420.html' rel="nofollow">4/20
Awwwwwwww.... you guys are too cute. GREAT perspectives.
OHmommy's last blog post..http://www.classychaos.com/2008/04/he-is-most-definitely-my-son.html' rel="nofollow">He is most definitely MY son
Are you kidding me?
Jamie's last blog post..http://choosingmyown.blogspot.com/2008/04/underwater.html' rel="nofollow">Underwater
Terrific. But don't be surprised if he wants this for every decade he lives. Cake and ice cream would have been way safer. (I mean - if you are into that sort of "safe" thing).
The first time I ever smelled the great green substance, I was out of college (I KNOW) and my stunningly brilliant statement was, "Dude. That smells like burning weeds!" (Again, I KNOW.)
Loralee's last blog post..http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/04/22/you-know-what-reunioncom-can-freaking-bite-me/' rel="nofollow">You know what? Reunion.com CAN FREAKING BITE ME!
*sigh* I already thought Vancouver rocked.
April's last blog post..http://formerlyaprildawn.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-bfof.html' rel="nofollow">My BFOF
3 words: Oh. Hell. Yes.
OK, more words. I do love my Vancouver neighbors to the north. Your city is all that for other reasons I had for being there, but this one is just another example.
Oh, and the pair of ya are super cute.
Now I'll go leave the same copied and pasted comment over there because my brain is too fried to write the same again.
Maggie's last blog post..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MaggiesMind/~3/276305728/splurge.html' rel="nofollow">Splurge
So, um, do I need to comment on both blogs if I already did one Huck's? Too lae, I already did...but have nothing more meaningful to say than I want to move there!
Kori's last blog post..http://korij.blogspot.com/2008/04/birthday-blessings.html' rel="nofollow">Birthday Blessings
and HEY; I have posted like three times-or four-since the one listed; WTF?
Kori's last blog post..http://korij.blogspot.com/2008/04/to-hell-with-conflict-its-my-birthday.html' rel="nofollow">To Hell with Conflict-It's My Birthday!
and hey again-never mind, there it is! :)
Kori's last blog post..http://korij.blogspot.com/2008/04/to-hell-with-conflict-its-my-birthday.html' rel="nofollow">To Hell with Conflict-It's My Birthday!
that was fun. my mouth is dry.
http://hubs.tumblr.com/post/32350188
My husband's birthday is April 20th. Every year at 4:20 on 4/20, our favorite stoner friend calls to wish him a happy birthday...dude.
Momo Fali's last blog post..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Momo-Fali/~3/275401787/she-aint-heavy-shes-my-daughter.html' rel="nofollow">She Ain't Heavy, She's My Daughter
What I love about weed, the weed culture, is the community feel to it.
Now, with my old friend Rx pills? It's like drinking alone.
I guess the IV drug culture takes it a bit far.....although I did love the movie Trainspotting.
What a great city to allow/tacitly promote it!
I will come there, someday.
christy's last blog post..http://thesouloneverypath.blogspot.com/2008/04/you-ought-to-see-my-party-clothes.html' rel="nofollow">You ought to see my party clothes
Now there's an idea...they could pour weed smoke through the vents in prisons and psychiatric wards AND customer service places...they'd all be high and not even know it!
Ashley's last blog post..http://www.bosssanders.com/2008/04/22/yesterday/' rel="nofollow">Yesterday?
Universal health care and legalized pot. Why don't I live in Canada, again?
Kelliqua's last blog post..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/typepad/kelliqua/prattle_inc/~3/274993256/panic-at-the-di.html' rel="nofollow">Panic at the Disco, If My Kitchen Table Can Be Called the Disco
OK, so that kind of thing doesn't happen down here in the South. The people I live around probably think "April 20 -- only one more month till I can wear my white shoes to church!"
By the way, I just tagged you. Dying to know 7 Random/Weird Things About You.
Betsy Bird's last blog post..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/EmptyingOurNest/~3/275542544/mama-make-em-stop.html' rel="nofollow">Mama, Make 'Em Stop!!!
Duuude, I'm FAMISHED after reading that.
Me and my friends had our OWN code for hightime.
We called it 24-7. :)
It's a good thing I wasn't there...I'm deathly allergic to pot. I would've needed an ambulance.
But sheesh...what a lovely thing *eyeroll*
Sadie's last blog post..http://findingperfect.com/?p=685' rel="nofollow">Vote for ME!
A totally revolutionary post! Surreal. Is it possible to get a placebo high from really really good description? Because all of a sudden I want hummus.
BusyDad's last blog post..http://www.busydadblog.com/entries/w8-loss-wednesday-3-runnin-with-bd.html' rel="nofollow">W8 Loss Wednesday #3 - Runnin' with BD
Wow. What a cool post. I love collaborative shit like this. Way to go to both of you. Dudes.
I love it, I just commented over at Huck's place, I'm gonna have to come visit you guys next year.
Awesome post too.
Allie Bear's last blog post..http://fridaynightambulance.blogspot.com/2008/04/visit-from-my-hubby.html' rel="nofollow">A visit from my hubby.
Packing my bags and on my way!!!
Tootsie Farklepants's last blog post..http://vintagethirty.blogspot.com/2008/04/heightened-scents-of-nostalgia.html' rel="nofollow">Heightened "Scents" of Nostalgia
That sounds great! I've always wanted to visit Vancouver, we've got (distant) relatives over there. One day!
Oh, and as a Scottish person I've gotta do one thing... She's the Queen of BRITAIN not just England :P
Marylin's last blog post..http://alittlespaceforme.com/2008/04/24/thirteen-favourite-smells/' rel="nofollow">Thirteen favourite smells
I now know I have totally turned into my mother because my first thought was, I would never want my babies to see a scene like that. And, this from the chick who can't smell skunk without thinking back to her college days, whose hubby had dreads when she met him, who swore she would never become part of the "establishment" that is middle class suburbia. Let me just hang my head in shame as I drive my caravan to our Mommy and me class.
conversemommy's last blog post..http://ordinaryartblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/only-names-have-changed.html' rel="nofollow">Only The Names Have Changed
You two are so crafty!
Before I could figure out what 420 was, those days had passed me by...
traci's last blog post..http://mymanettasfam.blogspot.com/2008/04/cliche-you-dont-say.html' rel="nofollow">Cliche? You Don't Say!
Ya, that would have gone down a little different in my home town.
HRH's last blog post..http://junecleavernirvana.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-never-know-what-i-am-going-to-get.html' rel="nofollow">I never know what I am going to get...
Conversemommy, I have had similar feelings about my kids. I wondered how much to tell them about my life--whether it was better to be honest and risk glorifying EVERYTHING (which is what I did, almost) or risk having secrets and lies.
I wound up telling most things.
Plus, it helps that I prefer niceness to proper behavior in general. Like I would rather my kids emulate the kind druggie instead of the judgmental preacher.....
Sorry such a long comment
christy's last blog post..http://thesouloneverypath.blogspot.com/2008/04/case-of-vapors.html' rel="nofollow">A case of the vapors
Wow, that is one cool post! Loved the descriptives from both of you guys!! HAPPY 4/20, 4 days late!
Secret Agent Mama's last blog post..http://secretagentmama.com/blog/2008/04/24/project-365-245365/' rel="nofollow">Project 365 (245/365)
I think you have hit on how to achieve World Peace (whirled peas?) - whichever.
Tara R.'s last blog post..http://ifmomsaysok.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/meet-the-family/' rel="nofollow">Meet the family
My favorite thing was as everyone was lining up to do the sun run at 9am the stoners we're already there - cheering the runners on as each new group left. Only in Vancouver would you have stoners cheering runners that early in the goddamn morning! Great post!
Emily's last blog post..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WishingWaitingHopingPraying/~3/276287864/d-e-v-e-s-t-a-t.html' rel="nofollow">D-E-V-E-S-T-A-T-E-D
I said it in Huckdoll's Hood and I'll say it here: you guys are awesome!
Don Mills Diva's last blog post..http://donmillsdiva.blogspot.com/2008/04/lovers-haters-cretins-and-zombified.html' rel="nofollow">Lovers, haters, cretins and zombified pimps
I am so lurking.
Audubon Ron's last blog post..http://ducksmahal.blogspot.com/2008/04/from-ronbeauxs-cajun-cookbook.html' rel="nofollow">From Ronbeaux's Cajun Cookbook
"A generation filled with peace, love respect and unity. Something that is so very lost in today
Dude.
Namaste.
Phil's last blog post..http://iamphildodd.com/blog/2008/04/22/today-has-been-rather-fubar/' rel="nofollow">Today has been rather fubar
I read this on Huckdolls site. God I love this story.
Ricardo's last blog post..http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/unloaded/~3/278608046/giving-gift-of-boob.html' rel="nofollow">Giving the Gift of Boob
I have to say, this post made me proud to be a Canadian. It warmed my heart. I'm currently in Calgary and not quite the same vibe here. It felt like one of those movie montages. Fantastic.