markie d: : April 2017

Saturday, April 1, 2017

I do apologize for taking so long to get around to posting this. Hopefully, I'll do better next time,

BUT HERE IS one of those ~~famous~~ infamous Dahlin adventure stories where half the hippies from Venice and the entire commune on Hollister Ave in Santa Monica mysteriously vanish from the face of the planet. Alien Abduction? Pirates? or Storm at California's inland sea...one thing is certain, "Dead Men Tell No Tales."

Go back in time with me to the early 70's in this Epic nine-minute adventure through space and time.

Subtitle: Camping with the Dahlins

and

Everything can go wrong

Enjoy the journey (Oh, BTW... I'm rocking my 70's shirt)

The links below correspond to several of the Blog-Posts alluded to in this story.

Left Behind part 4 of 7

Angels in a Ford Pick-up part 5 of 7

The High-Speed Chase and Indio

part 3 of: Moby Dick attacks

Electrocuting Sister Godzilla

Our Run-in with President Johnson - TRUE STORY

The Horrible Hamper part 3 of 3

Letting the Monkeys out of the Zoo part 2 of 3

The Manhunt: Elephant man. Leprosy. Poison Oak. part 1 of 3

The Malibu Betrayal: The invention of Bungee-Jumping (only the rope wasn't a bungee-cord) part 3

Just how crazy we were: Like Flying Squirrels

and here is the 54-second trailer if you want to see it one more time.

No Other Family Like Ours - seriously

WHAT OTHER FAMILY IN THE WORLD let all of the monkeys out of the Zoo, been pranked by the sitting President of the United States in a rouge encounter, chased in cities, chased out of cities and chased down by the cops. Who in their right mind voluntarily electrocute themselves just for fun and dared to electrify the nuns around the corner—who neither volunteered nor had fun? WHAT OTHER FAMILY has had more broken bones, pulled more pranks, have had a plethora of runaway rattlesnakes and other large reptiles terrorize their neighborhood. WHAT OTHER FAMILY grew Mexican Tomato plants that never grew tomatoes and had leaky boats that refuse to float or Escaped death more times? Who had cars on blocks, trucks as trash barges and flowerbeds sprouting rusted bikes, mislaid sparkplugs and abandoned carburetors instead of flowers? Meet the DAHLINS

And to think we survived and came out normal—well, mostly.

The Truimph of Overcoming

I use the word dysfunction with deliberate intention and with great respect in serving the main point of this blog. In the wild ramblings of a kid I ruminate on the idea that my family was not just dysfunctional but was the “most dysfunctional family” on the planet—that’s the set up.

As I look to the other “normal” plain-wrap families next door and across the street that had tidy yards and flowerbeds believing that the grass is greener on the other side (well the grass was greener), it shouldn’t shock anyone to realize that there is dysfunction in all of us—often times masked by tidy lawns and clean exteriors. Along with joy, success and adventure, life is filled with disappointment, failure, pain, and betrayal from those who have let us down. This is what it means to be human. I admit that I faced some disappointment in trying to fit in and longed for acceptance as the youngest boy of our wolf pack, but in large part I can honestly say that I had more fun and more adventure, in what I would call a happy childhood—despite the numerous broken bones. Yet, I would be remiss if I did not brag a bit and say, “Yeah, but...Look at all the great stories.”

Though, I dig deep into the mind and explore the full range of emotions of this young kid who felt detached, wondered about his existence, about his place in the family and his connection to the universe—He came out okay.

The older Markie D loves his brothers and sisters and holds no grudges.

Markie D has found this elusive connection to the universe and is well adjusted—and yes, still a little bit crazy. He has been married for 34 years to an amazing artist, Kerry, and has four incredibly gifted and talented adult children.

Oh, BTW… He mows his lawn, parks a car in the garage and has flowers in the flowerbeds and desires boats that float and less adventure in every outing and more "plain-wrap."

May you find your connection to the universe that brings healing, wholeness, forgiveness and a sense of hope as you look to your future.

markie d:

'72 swim team

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Alien Abduction or Pirates: The Mystery of the Vanishing Hippies

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