Finding Purpose - Song of my Life - Kristine van Dooren

So on with the story, which picks up after my sister returned to California. Now I was alone in London, and had a couple of days for myself, before flying back to West Berlin. I couldn’t wait to see Thomas again but I was nervous about how things would work out.

The first few days back in Berlin with Thomas were exciting and romantic, but soon reality hit. I had a talk with my parents on the phone about my plans and of course my dad tried to talk some sense into me, but with no avail.

Here’s a little glimpse into our hippie home life:

Of course, rolling and smoking marijuana joints was part of his ritual, which he believed set the mood and gave him added inspiration. One evening when I was feeling inspired, I got up and danced around the room to his music. He was so surprised and thrilled, and said “you look like a butterfly” !

We were truly living the hippie love story, as flower children, in the middle of West Berlin. He called me his California girl, which I loved to hear, and I called him honey, which he quite liked.

check out the music for my podcast, which I love! Naomi van Dooren, "Jeder Moment"

https://open.spotify.com/track/3lSwZO2vey0vnCGvAvI1Vu?si=LwOWQuUCT-ifJbU1xWrMmg&utm_source=copy-link

In the midst of the difficult circumstances that my sister and I were experiencing, Thomas and I were becoming friends. We were just taking one day at a time, visiting my sister in the clinic every day, and then going off on long walks before returning to his home. We had been brought together, because of the dramatic things that happened in the past couple of weeks. We were caught up in a challenging time, to say the least. Probably the only thing we had in common was a love of music, even though our background in music was different.

Check out the music on this podcast: Naomi van Dooren / Jeder Moment.

I am so happy that she gave me the playback! It inspires me while telling my story!

https://open.spotify.com/track/3lSwZO2vey0vnCGvAvI1Vu?si=LwOWQuUCT-ifJbU1xWrMmg&utm_source=copy-link

It was the summer month of July, 1970. We were sitting with our new German friends, listening to live music at the Go- In club, in downtown West Berlin.

It was an uneventful evening, until Thomas reached out and took my hand.

In true hippie fashion, influenced by the Zen philosophy of “living in the moment,” I decided to just “go with the flow” that night.

Welcome back friends!

Just at the time the song, California Dreamin was going around the world, this Calfiornina girl was dreaming about going off to Europe for the summer. I had soaked up the love, peace and happiness message the rock and folk musicians were singing about.

I kept thinking, that “I better take the chance now, to go travel before college starts”.

1967 and the Summer of Love was in full swing; music and hippies, and their quest for freedom was underway. By that time I was driving over to San Francisco on Friday nights with my friends to the rock concerts at the Fillmore West. 

My love for art, turned to the art of photography, so Dad set me up with a darkroom for black and white printing. The combination of capturing beauty, or a mood on film, and then developing that through the processes available in the darkroom, was really fascinating!

My high school in the 60s was a typical suburban school with all of the American traditions like sports, school dances, music programs and beauty contests. Any classes that had to do with art and dance is where you would find me. Then came the Beatles! I think they had more influence on me than the school´s four year education program.

Growing up in the 1950s and 60s in California was a privilege. Most people around the world tend to think of California as a vacation paradise with beautiful beaches and lots of sunshine, which it is of course. My parents chose the San Francisco Bay Area, near Hayward, to build a house, and raise their three daughters. This was home for me, with lots of fun memories and experiences, that set me on my way into the world with confident expectation.

Check out the music that I love for this podcast: Naomi van Dooren "Jeder Moment"

https://open.spotify.com/track/3lSwZO2vey0vnCGvAvI1Vu?si=LwOWQuUCT-ifJbU1xWrMmg&utm_source=copy-link

Welcome to my channel! Looking forward to telling you my story...