DOC'S BIRTHDAY BASH
May 14, 2004
Those of you who have known me for at least a year must realize that "IT" is rapidly approaching. Yes, it is already May and you know what that means. You don't? Need I give a hint? OK... beer milkshakes!!!
Yes, it's time to celebrate Edward Flanders "Doc" Ricketts birthday complete with the traditional rites. "Drop in" Friday, May 14th from 7:00 to 11:00 PM (even later if the cops show up to join us) at Bill "Doc" Bushing's lab, 107 Tremont Avenue (at the very top of Metropole Ave) to honor the original "Doc's" 107th birthday.
Most of you already know who Ed Ricketts is. After all, these parties have been going on for more than 25 years. For those of you who don't, Ed was a famous marine biologist who wrote a classic ecological text (Between Pacific Tides) which I first used at Harvard, then as a marine biology teacher at Toyon Bay and still use today in writing my "Dive Dry" columns. Ed was best friend and mentor to John Steinbeck who used him as the role model for the character "Doc" in Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday and several other novels. And Ed is my personal icon as a marine biologist.
In 1941 Steinbeck and Ricketts took the biological collecting trip through the Sea of Cortez that resulted in the highly philosophical Log from the Sea of Cortez. Ricketts also had a profound impact on mythologist Joseph Campbell who joined him on an earlier collecting trip to Alaska. Even Henry Miller was influenced by "Doc," possibly due to Ricketts' voracious sexual appetite (a trait of all good marine biologists I should add... and I'm starving!).
Ed was a great philosopher as well as biologist. His contributions include the concept of non-teleological or "is" thinking and "breaking through to the deep thing" based on my favorite poet Robinson Jeffers' poem "Roan Stallion." His works are gathered together in the two volume publication The Outer Shores. Definitely deep (and I don't mean as in ocean)!
"Doc" loved "true things..." fine scientific instruments, good tides and precise data collection, classical and contemporary music, the poetry of Robinson Jeffers and Lao Tsu. He really loved good beer (Bohemia was his favorite), women with thick lips and complications, partying, wine, good music, women, partying, more beer, women, whiskey, wine, women and song. He had few dislikes... women with thin lips (unless they used lipstick to compensate), people who didn't drink alcohol, people who didn't like sex, and getting his head wet (Ed always wore a hat when collecting in "the Great Tidepool"... and even in the shower so I doubt he would ever have become a SCUBA diver).
Of course no Ed Ricketts Day would be complete without Ed's "favorite" drink, a beer milkshake! The party will start with a screening of the first video I ever produced... the 1986 classic "About Ed Ricketts" and will be followed by edited footage from my recent Belize and Honduras diving. If you arrive late, you will be spared this. For the first time in many years, the 1980 MGM film version of "Cannery Row" will not be screened. We've just about worn it out anyway. Of course the high point of the party is a chance to get together and share what's left of our intellectual capacities after the milkshakes are consumed.
So join us on the 14th for a taste of the finest (and only?) beer milkshake you've ever had. Bring one to several dozen bottles each of your favorite beer. We'll supply the ice cream, the blender and the ambulance (oops, I mean ambiance). Feel free to bring tasty munchies to contribute if you so desire. If you prefer another beverage, BYOB... "Doc" Bushing is more tolerant than Ed was about such things.
For a map to the party, follow this link or call me at 310-510-8436 if you get lost.
Bill "Doc" Bushing
Edited by drbill, 04 May 2004 - 08:19 PM.
