Chapter 53 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. In my final chapter, I complete that last day of my odyssey, returning home with my mom and brother, but already facing at least one change and the challenge to address it.

Chapter 52 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I spend my final couple days in Europe amidst the warm hospitality of the Clay family in Oxford.  Finally on the plane flight back to Detroit in the States, I have one last chance to overthink everything, and I ponder who I might be becoming.  I have an epiphany on an old persona, “Clubius”, that I am now finally ready and able to give up.  And like the committed actor, I consider a new one, “The Coopster”, identified by big Aussie Jen in Rome several weeks back, that I will now try to inhabit as best I can for myself, for my family, and for the rest of my community back home in the States. Contains adult language.

Chapter 51 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Still staying with the Clay’s, their daughter Kate invites me to join her and her two best friends seeing the new movie “Godspell”, and I get a glimpse of the world and worldview of three young women, though just two years my junior, with a very different take on our path forward. Contains adult language.

Chapter 50 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I return to the Clays in Horspath, who hosted Angie and I at the beginning of our (now my) journey, where I will now spend the final days of my odyssey in their friendly hospitality and good energy. Contains adult language and sexual discussion.

Chapter 49 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. After a brief stop at the American Express office in London, I board a bus to Oxford and find myself amongst three drunken young women, returning from an office holiday party, who turn me into the entertainment for an otherwise boring ride home. Contains adult language and sexual discussion.

Chapter 48 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I stay for a couple nights with the couple my mom traded houses with three years back when we spent the summer in England in 1970, whom I had never before met. Troubled by the dynamics of that family and particularly the husband’s approach to marriage and parenthood, I continue to find solidarity with the women I meet, as they continue to show themselves as more mature and fighting the good fight to survive and thrive. Contains adult language, drug and sexual discussion.

Chapter 47 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. On the big ferry across the stormy North Sea returning to England, I have a close encounter with what seems like a bonafide hippie, a rock musician from Los Angeles, who draws me and then a young woman into his orbit and we make the most of his bottle of Dutch gin. Contains adult language, drug and sexual discussion.

Chapter 46 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I make my sad departure from my comrades, the Christian Youth Hostel, and Lady Amsterdam herself, and on my own again board the big ship to take me to England, and leave the Continent, and all its memorable people and places behind. Contains adult language, drug use and sexual discussion.

Chapter 45 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. Buzzing on Butch’s ”killer” giggly hash, I have a close encounter with Gwendolyn at the Van Gogh Museum and a more discomforting encounter with the BOAC ticketing agent. Contains adult language, drug use and sexual references.

Chapter 44 of my autobiographical novel of backpacking thru Western Europe in 1973 at age 18. I awake the next morning at the youth hostel to a brazen offer to smoke hash even before I’m out of bed, which accepted, sends me on a day’s adventure thru Amsterdam with my three backpacker comrades, beginning with a second tour of the Heineken brewery. Contains adult language, drug use and sexual discussion.