Words of wisdom from Hunter Thompson

[callous taoboy]

21. I was very lucky to ride Further with the Dr. and Ken Kesey out to Kesey's farm.

There were about a dozen people on board. It was after HST did a lecture at the Hilton ballroom in Eugene. I was walking home and the bus came pulling into a parking lot in front of me for some reason. Kesey had gotten out to fiddle with something on the bus so I ran over and jumped in and just sat down on the floor. Nobody said a word. Next thing I know away we go out to Pleasant Hill. Kesey, Babbs, HST and another prankster or two were playing poker in the back at a table. Someone handed me some electric punch on the way out there. Uncle John's Band was playing, then some Ray Charles. Spent the evening sitting around Kesey's kitchen table listening to HST and Kesey hold court. This was during the first Gulf war, so they had plenty to talk about. We stayed there until the wee hours, HST kept handing me shots of Wild Turkey, Kesey made some silver dollars appear and disappear in his hand. Fucking surreal. And you're so right, Cali, he was really the nicest guy. I had a chance to chat with him out on the front porch (needed some air, the punch was pretty intense) because HST had stepped out a moment later and he was asking me about my student teaching experience, wanted to know if kids were getting high in Jr. High, and it was raining buckets. Finally someone with a ride took us all back to the Hilton. As I was leaving I stuck out my hand to Hunter and we shook and he said, "Goodnight, son." I was 25. It was damned amazing. The weird thing is when I moved to Eugene (there from 89 - 92) I knew I was going to meet Kesey, but I never figured on that kind of a meeting.