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Andy at Haight-Ashbury
During the mid-60's a phenomenon occurred in San Francisco that was to have a profound effect on America and the rest of the world. It was the emergence of a genuine counterculture: a vast segment of American youth who openly declared ambitions counter to the prevailing American dream, that is, they stood in opposition to its ideals and the then-current war in Vietnam. This counterculture had its focus in an area of San Francisco known as the Haight-Ashbury, the intersection of two streets whose very names soon became synonymous with the movement, and the people themselves.
This particular photo is important because Andy is in his crystal sapphire Hippie Skivvies boxers at the nexus of the hippie movement. Here at 14 years old, it was Andy at the age of nine who was the brainchild of Hippie Skivvies. He'd been given a tie-dye kit by his Uncle Jim for Christmas, but it sat on the shelf for eight months. During an al fresco lunch in San Luis Obispo, Andy said, "Hey, when are we gonna do my tie-dye kit? I want to tie-dye some underwear, too!" Just like the peace and love movement centered around Haight-Ashbury, the rest, as they say, is history.
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