That One Year I Was a Space Alien (Study of a Primary Source)
Everything you never wanted to know about how to be a space alien; a primary source documented on historic lined notebook paper.
Hello beloved readers!
It has been far too long, and I miss you! This Substack world is interesting because it truly does create a community, and it feels like it has been far too long since I’ve published anything here! ❤️
I’ve been locked away in a self imposed cave to finalize my chapter submission to an anthology style book titled The Evolution of Leadership In STEM: Women Catalyzing Change. I’m so excited to share more about that with you soon!
I’m also busy packing for my upcoming trip to Mexico City (woooo hoo!) so if you have **must see** recommendations please do share in the comments!
With everything going on I thought it might be a good time to share a bit of a pre-packaged story with you. A few people had messaged and said they’d like to year more about the (eek) LSD stories that I alluded to in my intro to the memoir, Part III.
So keep reading for the hand-written story that I penned at 17, during that trippy period of life.
Important note: I share these types of stories because they are a very real part of my life experience. But the consequences of substance abuse are severe so…
…Seriously kids, do not try this at home.
Set the Stage
So let’s set the stage, when and why was this story written?
I found out that I was pregnant in July 1997. I was 16. It was at that time that I ceased the long habit of drug use that I’d developed, and signed myself up for evening classes in the alternative adult high school program.
The story was a school assignment during that time. (Although… I looked back at my transcript from that semester and saw only math, history, and biology - which leaves me with questions about which one of those subjects I felt that this topic fit into?)
Psst. If you are wondering what the hell I’m even talking about - the backstory is in my 3 part memoir series. If you missed all that, check it out!
→ Part I (This part is important, but if you aren’t in the mindset for heavy content, then bookmark this one for now and skip on over to get the gist from Part II and III!)
In the final months prior to learning about that pregnancy, my boyfriend shared his vial of liquid LSD with me. By share, I mean he gave it to me to take a few drops and I didn’t give it back.
It took me a few weeks to get through the whole vial. But after that, the trip sorta just didn’t end.
It turned out to be a very long trip.
Based on the old school time stamp shown at the top of the paper below, the story was written in December 1997 - which was the end of that first semester of night school. So it had been about five months since I’d had any illicit substances in my system whatsoever; and about seven months since the time I was actively consuming the vial.
As you read the story, know that about 85% of it was pulled from what had become my genuine understanding of reality during those months. The effects were finally starting to wear off but around this time my brain was still wobbling in and out of believing key parts of this were completely real and true.
I haven’t shared this story with too many people because most have no way to relate. Plus, there aren’t that many conversations where I can drop in my anecdotal experience of ‘that one time I thought I was an alien’. And also, it makes me sound like a lunatic.
But see, told you I love ya, readers. 😘 So here ya go.
Alien Love (Or, Snapshot of Confusion)
Erm, Yeah, So
Deep story, huh?
Is this a good time to remind you that I’ve raised two perfectly functional children and managed some pretty massive engineering projects and never once tried to take over the world as an alien overlord?
And yeah, it’s completely a coincidence that I selected aerospace engineering as my major after spending a year untangling my mind from thinking it was an alien. (Look, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
I did have one flashback type experience later in life (sans alien theme) a few years after the time this school assignment was written. A story for another day though, it is much less funny. (But more importantly, how disturbing it is that 17 year old me with a 9th grade education, no Google, and lingering hallucination seems to have had a more expansive vocabulary than I have now? An “egregious” battle? Well baby-Rose.)
I’d love to dig in deeper but alas, Mexico is calling my name!! Let me know if you enjoyed reading this, or just drop a note and say hi. Thanks for stopping by! ❤️
I enjoyed reading it, although, enjoy doesn't seem the word, I mean I enjoy ice cream as well and it's somewhat more than that.
Woooohoooo! Mexico! I never went there.
But I am getting another planet as well.
According to my friend Gail Kraft, I am from a planet that blew up because of raging war fueled by extremely advanced technology.
I feel this is right.
And no, you won't go unnoticed unless this is what you want Rose.
I notice you. I observe you. I witness you 😉
I look forward to speaking with you 😃