When woodstock happened back in '69, I wasn*t even a twinkle in my parents' eyes. As I grew up, I heard their amazing stories of their experience (yes, they were part of the historic event) and I was always in complete awe by the time the story finished. They would tell me about the people they met, one couple came from California and they spent the days together, drinking and taking LSD (which they neglected to tell me until I was in my teens). They would laugh and talk for hours about Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and all of the other greats whose music I*ve grown to love and respect. Sadly, my parents passed away in spring of 2008 and those stories I once adored and begged to hear, went with them. Even now as I struggle to piece together pieces of what the stories held, it doesn*t have the same affect on me as it once did.

The other day, as I was driving home with my boyfriend, we heard something about Woodstock 2009 on the radio. We both instantly shut up to hear what it was about and where it would be held. I got chills..I thought wow, finally it*s my chance to experience even a sliver of what my parents got to experience back in '69. I knew at that very moment that we had to be there. Although my parents and I didn*t always see eye to eye, whenever they would take the time to share their memories with me, I would sit and listen intently for hours. To me, losing my parents has been very tragic and the past year has definitely took it*s toll on me. But despite all of that, I am bound and determined to make it to Woodstock '09 and have the trip of a lifetime. To me, it*s one more thing we can connect on, even if they aren*t here to witness it with me.