HIPPY PARENTS: A FAMILY IN CRISIS

[above] ageing hippy being all "counter culture"

alee mckay, a san francisco bay area resident,  is a twenty something with a problem.  a really big problem.  her parents, jonathan and kimberley mckay,  are hippies.  "mom and dad are pretty successful people, with their software company and all ", said alee taking a break from her job as a waitress at the "coffee being" coffee house. "they make a lot of money and have a really nice home out in the wine country, but they still think it's 1968 or something".  

mckay has urged her parents on many occasions to lose the moccasins and tie dyes in favor of more current, and age appropriate apparel.  "my dad will not look at a barney's catalog. each time i try and get him to order a nice button down collar, or khaki pants, he clenches his fist, sticks it in the air  and starts singing "we shall overcome" at the top of his voice".  all is not lost however, mckay  seems to be finally reaching her  mother.  "yeah, mom has been a little easier.  she has finally given her tatty old poncho away, and last thanksgiving she wore a nice pleated skirt for the first time in over 35 years".  but, there is still a long, long way to go for mckay's parents to let the "whole hippy thing" go and start acting their age.

added to this this tragic familial situation, mckay's younger brother, todd, has just recently "gone hippy".  "oh todd, todd, todd," sighed mckay "he went through the whole "grunge" thing relatively unscathed, being a preppy sort of guy...but ever since he played dad's worn out copy of the grateful dead's "american beauty" it's out with the ralph lauren and in with the incense. needless to say, todd's cool quotient has gone through the floor faster than a bag of anvils".  mckay went on to add that her younger brother is going "to remain a virgin for a very, very long time". indeed.

todd mckay before "american beauty"                todd mckay after "american beauty"

back to index