Wendy L Baker - My Name Was Mushroom: My Life as a Teenage Runaway in The Source Family Commune

My Name Was Mushroom: My Life as a Teenage Runaway in The Source Family Commune

Wendy Baker and Brian Solon

Published by Think It Publishing

Copyright 2022 by Wendy Baker and Brian Solon

All rights reserved.

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Publishing team: Author Bridge Media, www.AuthorBridgeMedia.com

Publishing Manager: Laurie Aranda

Cover Designer: Peri Gabriel

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022908909

ISBN: 978-0-9960552-6-0softcover

ISBN: 978-0-9960552-7-7hardcover

ISBN: 978-0-9960552-8-4ebook

ISBN: 978-0-9960552-9-1audio

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Printed in the United States of America.

Dedication

To the love of my life and soul mate, Bart Baker, who has given me the ultimate support for over 44 years. I couldnt have written this book without you.

A special dedication to my mother, Norma, who has passed away. And to my father-in-law, Jim Baker, and mother-in-law, Elaine Baker: my love for you is unmeasurable.

Contents

Acknowledgments

I am eternally grateful for my Source Family experience. It has made a positive difference in my life. I love my Source Family brothers and sisters who made this journey with me. Thank you to Jim Baker, also known as Yahowah, my spiritual father, father-in-law, and teacher: you taught me how to live my life in a positive and loving way. I will never forget you.

Thank you to my three children: my daughter Jaime, a.k.a. Stardust, and son-in-law Jason Black; my daughter Amber Baker and daughter-in-law Patti Palafox; and my son Brian Baker and daughter-in-law Sarah. And to my four grandsons: Julian and Luca Calvo; Jonah and Jacob Black.

Thank you to my friends in Malibu who encouraged me to write this story about my life as a youth: Robin and Greg Windham; Gail and Sam Seelig; Patty and Jerry Seymour; Linda Fleidermen; Betty and Bill Cacciatore; Rosalie Shore; Howard Rosenberg; Doug Olen, my tennis coach; and all my tennis friends at Malibu Racquet Club.

Thank you to my brother- and sister-in-law Ben and Carla Baker for giving me their blessings. And to my sister-in-law Celeste, a.k.a. Tau, Baker, and my nieces: Tia Lutz, Onka, a.k.a. Amanda Scott, and her husband, John Scott, June Scott and Amanda Baker.

Thank you to my Aquarian Family who supported me: Damian, a.k.a. Bob Paul; Sunflower, a.k.a. Patrick Burke; Heaven, a.k.a. Nancy Hirsch; Sir Knight, a.k.a. Peter Tobin; Paralda, a.k.a. Elizabeth Keller; Blessing, a.k.a. Marci Gossard; Goddess, a.k.a. Mary Blyth; Waterfall, a.k.a. Ian Blyth; Dawn, a.k.a. Hurwitz; Anastasia, a.k.a. Ellie Zacks; Joshua Kemp, Katina; and all my brothers and sisters in the Source Family.

A special thank you to Scott Schwimer, my attorney, for adding fun and flare to this book and for believing in me and my story.

A huge thank you to Helen Chang at Author Bridge Media for putting on the finishing touches. And to Laurie Aranda for helping me publish the book.

Thank you to Alex Koch, audio engineer.

I owe gratitude to Brian Solon, my co-writer and inspiration in writing my story; for taking this journey with me and sharing all of his wisdom.

I am beyond grateful to my love and husband of 44 years. Bart has motivated me and inspired me to write this story. I could not have written these words without his support and blessings.

Chapter 1

Runaway

The Force Within

Spring 1972

My moment of truth happened one night at the age of 14 as I sat on the edge of my bed in the dark with my sister sleeping next to me. I was trembling with fear and bursting with excitement, trying to figure out which one was going to win. Should I go to morning meditation?

I was supposed to go to school and had a big test that Id been studying for all week. I was always a good student. I started losing interest in school by the seventh grade and never gained back my enthusiasm that I once had. I was bored. I wasnt being stimulated. The education wasnt exciting for me anymore. I didnt want to memorize dates of wars and presidents. It no longer made sense to me.

I gravitated towards spirituality. Who am I and where am I going? I wanted to learnwho is Buddha? Who are the Yogi masters of the world? How could nutrition affect my health and my body? I was always active and saw exercise as an ingredient of a balanced life. I didnt know enough about it and I craved learning how the body works.

These topics were never discussed in my family. No one in my family went to college, so I thought that was not an option. I was told early on that I was to get a job as a secretary.

My thoughts changed suddenly. I had gone from being a good student to socializing with the hippies in school. Many of my peers did drugs, but I wasnt one of them. I didnt do drugs or alcohol, and never touched a cigarette. Deep down inside I was a good girl. I always craved knowledge of life.

As school became boring I got involved with ditching and hanging out with the Laurel Canyon gang. The Laurel Canyon group ditched a lot and would get together at different houses smoking pot and having sex. I didnt fit this category but I was intrigued by all of this. It was fun to go against the rules and do something that was not so perfect, because I was always expected to be the brain in the family. I observed their behavior and participated in a mild way.

I hated being out of control. Typically I had one boyfriend and could stay away from most of the trouble. It was like I had angels guiding me and keeping me sane. I do believe we are destined to travel on the path chosen for us.

What would my sisters do when they woke up and noticed that I was gone? It was a scary thought and concerned me. How would my Mom react? Would they even care?

I was the third of four sisters all born a year apartwhile we were close in age, we otherwise werent exactly close with one another. Our Dad wasnt in the picture (I had never even met himand mom never talked about him) and our single mom was not the greatest motherthere were no hugs, kisses, or even simple recognition. Zilch.

High school was becoming a nightmare and in many ways the wider world seemed to be falling apart. It was 1972 and many people in my generation were strung out on drugs, or on the verge of being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, or feeling totally directionless. I knew I didnt belong there and was seeking a new path. The thought of that change was terrifying.