Our Valley has been impoverished by the death of Norman Bie, an Amherst based performer, philosopher and activist who was especially prominent in the marijuana legalization movement. He used to have a politically tinged stand up comedy act called Deviations from the Norm.
Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead once saw Norman perform his act in the documentary The Deadheads and had Dead publicist Dennis McNally get in touch with him. Unfortunately, Garcia died shortly thereafter so nothing came of it.
Norman's good humor and wizard like persona made him a popular figure at cultural and political events up and down the Valley. Alas, Norman was in too poor health to attend the gathering (below) of local pot activists at Attorney Dick Evans house last month to celebrate the history of marijuana activism in the Valley and its ultimate success.
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Actually, Norman became disillusioned with the form that legalization took in Massachusetts, complaining that it was too commercially oriented and with too many unnecessary restrictions.
When first diagnosed with cancer, Norman was given only six months to live. However, relying on his own cannabis based treatments, he extended that six month death sentence by two years. According to his longtime companion Rachel Alice-Pauline, Norman died last Thursday at 2:40 in the afternoon. Too bad it wasn't the more appropriate departure time of 4:20.
I recently learned of yet another tragic death in our Valley - that of downtown Hamp's beloved Sid the Cat.
During the covid panic, a sign in the window of his Shop Therapy home reassured his fans of his well being while the shop was closed.
Now his fans are missing him. The staff of Shop Therapy hasn't quite yet been able to bring themselves to remove this no longer relevant message to his more touchy-feely fans.
Nothing lasts.
I'm not sure I share this Hamp shop's enthusiasm for sweaters.
I mean, I like sweaters, I'm just ambivalent about the weather that requires them.
Springfield Shower by Marilyn Vennell.
2 comments:
Norman Bie the Marijuana Guy
Ah, I remember him reading at the Fire and Water Cafe in the mid 1990s, wearing only a sackcloth and looking like John the Baptist. He claimed to be the first person to invent a rhyme for “orange.” He recited: “slip on an orange, stub your toe on the door-hinge,” or something similar. I also like his “Deviations From The Norm” themed blog and found his style of writing and delivery very inspiring. Rest In Peace Norm. - Dann Vazquez
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