Acid Test: My House! Be There or Be... Sane?

After we talked about Ken Kesey's "Acid Test" parties, I could not stop thinking about them. The idea that groups of people got together with the intention of having a party with LSD in the addition of black lights, fluorescent paint, and strobe lights completely blew my mind. I can't even imagine why these parties don't exist any more, they sound like such a great time! I wish to host one myself, so I did some more research so I know my Acid Test will be one to remember (or not.. I mean, there will be a lot of LSD).


It seems that in order to host the perfect Acid Test I first need to make a poster so that everyone can be informed when this completely illegal event will take place. That's logical, right? When Ken Kesey hosted these parties flyers actually were posted telling everyone the date, time, and place. Some examples of these flyers:

                                                  

                                                 

Here's my Acid Test flyer: 

Ken Kesek's Acid Test parties also gained a second name; The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. They received this name because for drinks, the crazies drank out of baby bathtubs these of Kool-Aid spiked with LSD. Since Kool-Aid is involved, feel free to invite anyone under the age of 12 to this bash. Upon entry, everyone will receive a Kool-Aid Jammer. We will fill the straws with powdered LSD, and as you poke it through the juice box, they'll mix! I feel this is a better option because it's a little more sanitary than the bathtub. And I know it's on top of everyone's list of priorities to have a sanitary drug party.




People at these parties received "Acid Test Membership Cards:"

                                                                


Upon entry at my party, everyone will get this new-age "Acid Test Membership Card:" 

These cards should help everyone out of any sticky situations. 

Ken Kesey also charged admission at his parties, and even he paid this charge. The admission price will be $3. This $3 includes entry into the party, your membership card, endless amounts of Kool-Aid and a good time. 

WARNING: If you suffer from chronic seizures, you may want to hold out on this party. There will be a lot of strobe lights, in addition to many other "psychadelic" decorations! 

RSVP as soon as possible! Hope you can come! 

p.s. this is 100% a joke. I know since we're all AP English 12 students everyone will understand. But you can never be too careful! 

Amish Dinner 2010

Every year my family attends our annual "Amish Dinner." A group of our family and friends travel to an Amish family's home where they prepare us a REAL home-cooked dinner (It seems weird when describing it like that, but it actually is very normal, hosting dinners is what they do for a living). A prime example of AP English seeping into our everyday lives, the whole night when I should've been enjoying mashed potatoes, homemade bread, and pie, I was wondering if the host family felt the same way the Gangulis and Jhumpa Lahiri felt; like an outsider in their own country. This seems so sad, but I don't think it's all that far-fetched. This particular family lived less than ten minutes away from a normal house, one with electricity and cars, yet they lived a completely different lifestyle. It must be extremely difficult living in a technologically forward world when that represents 0% of their lives. I wondered if Amish parents receive the same despise Ashoka and Ashima felt from Sonia and Gogol because they were forced into a culture that they didn't wish to be a part of. A quote that stuck out to me in The Namesake was when Ashima described being a foreigner as "a sort of lifelong pregnancy" (49). Ashima described the constant stares and pity she received from strangers, and I can't help but think that Amish people also receive these things. Sometimes when I'm out at the movies or shopping and I see an Amish person I know I often do a double-take, unintentionally alienating them from myself and the other people around me. If these Amish people truly did feel the same way Ashima did, I can't help but feel ashamed knowing I had some part in causing these feelings. It's sad to think that society can cause this separation simply because of a difference in lifestyle choices. I hope now that I have acknowledged this I can work harder and make sure that I am not contributing to this segregation.