Free Spirit : Growing Up On the Road and Off the Grid

An Unforgettable Journey Through an Unconventional Childhood When Joshua Safran was four years old, his mother--determined to protect him from the threats of nuclear war and Ronald Reagan--took to the open road with her young son, leaving the San Francisco countercultural scene behind. Together they embarked on a journey to find a utopia they could call home. In Free Spirit , Safran tells the harrowing, yet wryly funny story of his childhood chasing this perfect life off the grid--and how they survived the imperfect one they found instead. Encountering a cast of strange and humorous characters along the way, Joshua spends his early years living in a series of makeshift homes, including shacks, teepees, buses, and a lean-to on a stump. His colorful youth darkens, however, when his mother marries an alcoholic and abusive guerrilla/poet. Throughout it all, Joshua yearns for a "normal" life, but when he finally reenters society through school, he finds "America" a difficult and confusing place. Years spent living in the wilderness and discussing Marxism have not prepared him for the Darwinian world of teenagers, and he finds himself bullied and beaten by classmates who don't share his mother's belief about reveling in one's differences. Eventually, Joshua finds the strength to fight back against his tormentors, both in school and at home, and helps his mother find peace. But Free Spirit is more than just a coming-of-age story. It is also a journey of the spirit, as he reconnects with his Jewish roots; a tale of overcoming adversity; and a captivating read about a childhood unlike any other. An Unforgettable Journey Through an Unconventional Childhood When Joshua Safran was four years old, his mother—determined to protect him from the threats of nuclear war and Ronald Reagan — took to the open road with her young son, leaving the San Francisco countercultural scene behind. Together they embarked on a journey to find a utopia they could call home. In Free Spirit , Safran tells the harrowing, yet wryly funny story of his childhood chasing this perfect life off the grid—and how they survived the imperfect one they found instead. Encountering a cast of strange and humorous characters along the way, Joshua spends his early years living in a series of makeshift homes, including shacks, teepees, buses, and a lean-to on a stump. His colorful youth darkens, however, when his mother marries an alcoholic and abusive guerrilla/poet. Throughout it all, Joshua yearns for a "normal" life, but when he finally reenters society through school, he finds "America" a difficult and confusing place. Years spent living in the wilderness and discussing Marxism have not prepared him for the Darwinian world of teenagers, and he finds himself bullied and beaten by classmates who don't share his mother's belief about reveling in one's differences. Eventually, Joshua finds the strength to fight back against his tormentors, both in school and at home, and helps his mother find peace. But Free Spirit is more than just a coming-of-age story. It is also a journey of the spirit, as he reconnects with his Jewish roots; a tale of overcoming adversity; and a captivating read about a childhood unlike any other. Tells The Harrowing, Yet Wryly Funny Story Of Safran's Childhood Chasing The Perfect Life Off The Grid--and How He And His Mother Survived The Imperfect One They Found Instead. More Than Just A Coming-of Age Story, Free Spirit Is A Journey Of The Spirit, As Safran Reconnects With His Jewish Roots; A Tale Of Overcoming Adversity; And A Captivating Read About A Childhood Unlike Any Other. Prologue: Saigon Moses -- Parental Truths -- The Day Before The Apocalypse -- Life As A Verb -- Back To The Land -- Two Eyes Are Better Than Three -- The Extraterrestrials -- Little Man Won't Get High -- Wanderings In The Wilderness -- Decepticon -- On Bended Knee -- The Groom -- The Descent Of Man -- The Fall Of Carthage -- If A Tree Falls-- -- Rainfall -- A Kind Of Normal -- Men Don't Cry -- Bankruptcy -- The Revolution -- The Promised Land. Joshua Safran.