I remember the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970. I was a senior in high school and had just turned eighteen the day before. All my friends were going to cut class and go to the festivities being held at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia. I'd never cut a class before but I was determined not to be left behind.
A bunch of us piled into my friend's '63 Dodge Dart that was parked three blocks away from school. We all knew we had to be back before four o'clock so we wouldn't miss the last bus for home. It was a great group of friends and looking back now, almost thirty six years later, I'm amazed at how much has changed. There were no cell phones; nothing more than ears were ever pierced and only on girls; most of us had never seen, let alone smoked a joint; none of us had ever seen or touched 'it'. ('It' being 'his thing') It was a car full of six very innocent teenage girls.
We finally found our way to the park after getting lost numerous times and parked the car at least a mile away from the center of the 'happening'. You couldn't park any closer because everyone who was there came by car and parking spaces were few and far between.
The crowd was huge and in full party mode by the time we found a spot of grass to spread a blanket and sit down. We were still quite a distance from the speakers and the densest part of the crowd. My friends were anxious to force their way into the mass of longed-haired, blue jean clad bodies. They wanted to be right at the front of everything that was going on.
After walking past a seemingly endless line of cars parked haphazardly on the grass, and stepping over countless empty food and beverage wrappers strewn amongst the weeds, I was becoming disillusioned very fast. This celebration of Mother Earth was playing havoc on the environment! Those who came to sing her praises and beg for consideration of her delicate condition were trashing her before my eyes. The emerald green grass was churned up and mixed with mud; it was deeply gouged from the onslaught of tires passing over in search of parking. There were discarded shoes, beach chairs and trash – so much trash! And the air that wasn't polluted from the automobile exhaust was heavy with another less than earthy aroma. You most definitely could have gotten high on second hand smoke – a term not yet invented in 1970.
I told my friends to go on with out me. I knew they would laugh at me if I told them what was bothering me so I told them I wasn't feeling well and just wanted to take a nap. Off they went with out me, pushing and nudging their way through the crowd.
I wanted to be rid of everyone there that day. We hadn't yet heard the phrase 'reduce, reuse, recycle'. The television commercial featuring an American Indian crying as he observes the liter and polution around him hadn't made its debut yet. But at eighteen years old I could still see the irony of the day that was unfolding around me. So, stranded in the park until my friend with the car came back, I decided to create my own version of Earth Day and started walking in the opposite direction of the crowd.
Belmont Plateau is a part of Fairmount Park which provides an amazing view of the City of Philadelphia. With my back to the city and the throng of well-intentioned humanity, I headed toward a dense grove of trees. The droning of the loud speakers began to fade as I walked aimlessly through the park, deliberately avoiding anything that looked like a man-made path. Within a few minutes I could hear the gentle twitter of a small flock of birds in the trees above me. Eventually, I could feel Mother Earth seeping into my soul, pushing out the stress I was feeling from the party that was going on without her, the guest of honor.
I must have walked more than a mile in silence by myself. The trees and shrubs got thicker and I hadn't seen a foot path for quite a while. Then I realized I wasn't alone with Mother. I heard someone giggling! At first I thought it was a strange bird because it repeated a couple of times. I stopped and looked around squinting through the haze of the bushes in front of me. I froze, my feet glued to the ground. I couldn't believe the sight before me!
Suddenly, a squirrel ran past me, snapping a twig loudly as he scurried by. I ducked quickly behind the nearest shrub so I wouldn't be seen. There was a young couple a few feet ahead and they turned in my direction at the sound the squirrel had made. That was the first time I saw 'it'. And 'it' was a beauty! A real cock!
I've thought of that couple many times through the years. I call them "Adam and Eve". They were young, beautiful and totally absorbed in themselves and their own appreciation of Mother Earth.
Sure that it had just been a small animal breaking the silence of nature, Adam and Eve turned to face each other. They were naked; their alabaster bodies were a contrast to the deep greens and browns of the forest around them. She had tiny breasts with dark, chocolate nipples and a wild patch of curly, rust colored hair between her legs. Her young face was framed with heavy bangs and long, long strawberry blonde hair that was dotted with tiny white flowers.
Adam was tall and lean with a healthy head of dark brown hair and an even healthier rod of manhood protruding from his groin, bobbing as he moved. Yes, it was his thing, his cock, his dick, his penis!
I was hypnotized as I watched their very private Earth Day celebration. From the thin cover of a mature azalea bush I settled myself into the moist earth and had my first real sex education class.
His hands lightly brushed over her back, her firm, round ass and then around to rest gently on each hip. He kissed, tiny little butterfly kisses on her nose, her lips, lowering his head gently to her breasts, her belly. She giggled quietly and licked her lips. He moved his head directly in front of hers and his stern expression melted into a beautiful smile. The two young bodies in front of me explored each other with gentle caresses and quick kisses, laughing quietly lest they be discovered. They eventually became so entwined with each other that I could hardly tell were his body stopped and hers began. They just seemed to melt into each other.
After a few minutes of their frolic I was beginning to get uncomfortable in my restricted position, but my determination to maintain a clear view of 'his thing' blotted out the dampness seeping through my jeans and the muscle cramps growing in my legs.
I didn't wait in vain. After untangling themselves from each other, Adam knelt on the ground near Eve's feet and brushed away the top layer of leaves and branches with his hands. Then he looked up at her and extended his hand. She smiled sweetly at him and accepted it as he pulled her gently down to the soft earth beside him.
