No I in Frend.

I was one of those kids that you could see running around at music festivals, even more then just music festivals. My Dad and step-mom are very artsy and exposed me to good music and food at a young age. The arts are a big part of our lives. I've always gone with them to arts fesitvals and concerts. I can't remember my first time seeing live music or camping.

Last summer I wasn't really able to go to any concerts or do any festivals but like I said in my last post this summer is extremly different from the last.

A couple of years ago I went to the Phish music festival, Super Ball, with my dear friend Allison. I think that might have been my first music festival without my parents.
It was super fun but we did get there late and leave early, so that was kind of a bummer.

This weekend I attended my first sober music festival- but I guess that's not really true since, like I said, I went to them as a kid... but you know what I mean.

I wasn't really nervous about going to this festival, The Frendly Gathering, because I don't need drugs or alcohol anymore to have a good time. I did prepare myself that I would be tempted to do things but I knew I would be able to handel myself. However, I was extremely unprepared for this experience, literally and physically.

Let me start at the very beginning, because that is a good place to start... (anyone get that?)

Friday:
Woke up at 5am, got a speeding ticket in New York, ran over a turtle on a Vermont highway, finally arrived at Magic Mountain parked the car and waited in a two hour line to get to where we were camping... no cell service.
Found our camp site... after much searching... and proceeded to set up our tent, which took far too long.
People at this point started drinking, if they weren't drunk already. Then finally we went down to the main stage at the bottom of the mountain and heard some tunes. I ran into one of my favorite humans in the world, +Zachary Allott. That was probs a highlight of the day.
It had rained the night before and it was quite moist everywhere. O so then... IT STARTS DOWN POURING.
There were around 20, give or take, people in the group I was camping with. When it started raining we all huddled around the pop up tent and handels and beers started getting passed around. I took a step back and literally just walked out into the rain on my own.
I had my bathing suit on and a festival to explore. It was actually awesome walking around in the rain. I ran into some of my babuhs and buddies.
After the rain subsided we saw some more music and I changed into a few more outfits. There were several times I wandered off on my own.
By late night I was tired but it was good to be surrounded by so many frends.
One thing I've never noticed before was that drunk people can be really rude. At this point people were getting annoying and rude so I decided to go to bed. I went into my tent and I stumbled upon a puddle directly in the middle of my tent OH JOY. I cleaned it up with towels and then got into my sleeping bag... which was sopping wet.... I started silently, but surely, crying.
The day was just too much to handel.
So I prayed, read a reflection book that I had with me, and thought about all the things I appreciated about that moment and the overall day. I just prayed that I could sleep through the night.
Over all Friday was horrible. 

Saturday:
I woke up Saturday to Rita screaming my name. I slept through the entire night which was good. Miraculously I had cell service so I called my mom and told her how things were not going well...
I was planning on this trip being difficult because of temptation not because of dealing with other people. All of my triggers were around me- from dealing with the cops, to dealing with people I hate- but I was really proud of how I handled myself.
After bacon was made and consumed, a group of us ventured to a lake and then a VT farmers market. This morning set the day off on a totally different foot. When we got back the sun was shining and glitter was shimmering. We went down to a pond and watched Twiddle preform and it was the most hippy dippy thing I've ever seen.
The Burton main stage smelled like pure shit but the music sounded good. My dear friend, and inspiring entrepreneur, (Mr. Brian Sommers) went on a rigorous hike, met some people, and had some good talks. Then we ventured back to my campsite then off to see more music.
Like Friday, there were several times I wandered off on my own during shows like Conspirator. It was nice to just not be surrounded by people and step back and watch the craziness that was ensuing. It was really fascinating. It really would have been nice to have someone to wander off with but I am also happy with my best friend... Yup. Me.
All of the performances on Saturday were really cool and I all together had a much much better day. The cherry on the top was being front and center for @paperdiamond. I womped my face off.
Over all Saturday was pretty awesome. 

Burton Tent- made a dream catcher... CRAFTS. 

Sunday:
We got packed up and on the road by 9:30am, and home to PA by 3:00pm.
When I got home I was exhausted physically and emotionally.


So overall...
It was about a 7 out of 10 for a weekend.

It was wonderful to see my friends, but hard to be around them while they were so fucked up.
Being surrounded by music I knew I there would be no way I wouldn't have had a good time.

I will def go to another festival when I can but next time I will hopefully have a buddy.

No drugs and I still look insane.