First and foremost, thanks so much for the groovy site...I love it! I was 13 years old when Woodstock changed our world. I lived in Arizona at the time with my picture perfect, stay at home, June Cleaver type mom, my retired 28 year military, anti long hair, anti bell-bottom dad, and a handful of obedient siblings.

My hemp induced friends (mostly a couple of years older than me) and I were the neighborhood rebels that loved rock and roll and hitch hiking to Encanto Park to play Frisbee and hangout with other hippies. Although my dad insisted that my hair stay short, I was a long-hair at heart. I kept a small 20x20 foot freedom zone behind my dad's shed in the back yard with black lights, posters of Easy Rider, peace signs, and Ann Margret sitting on a Harley. My friends and I would sit together in "my world", listen to music and dream and try to figure out how to get to Woodstock.

The upcoming event was all the talk in my circle of "brothers and sisters". We decided that hitch hiking was our best option because we were already experts. Then there was the money issue. I was quite the entrepreneur even at 13. My best friend (now my brother-in-law) and I walked the neighborhood with a wheel barrel and gardening tools and trimmed palm trees. We actually did pretty good and saved a couple of hundred bucks. Out of about 10 of us that wanted to go, now there were 3. At that age, excuses are plentiful. Some of the classic excuses were; "I'm grounded", "I have football practice", "My girl friend won't go", and so many more. It was never "My parents won't even consider it" or "I'm only 13!". Regardless of all the excuses, I REALLY wanted to go. Unfortunately, I would have been alone in my travels which scared me enough to reconsider.

Forty years later with grandkids just about the age I was then, makes me laugh at what we were attempting to do. The dream and desire to go then is still alive in my soul. My family constantly reminds me that I never left that time maybe because I still listen to my 600 album collection, kept some of my peace medallions, still have hair down to the middle of my back, and still drive a 1968 VW bus.

I have most all of the memorabilia like unused tickets, ticket order form, magazines of the time regarding Woodstock and other fun items that keep me reminded of that special time. I chose not to attend the 94 and 99 events because I didn't believe that the bands scheduled and the venues represented the original event. I have now added to my collection a custom made Woodstock motorcycle (Kodak site attached). I would love to attend at least one of the 40th anniversary events with the motorcycle for others to enjoy as well.

If you like, cut and paste this rather lengthy address into your favorite browser which will show you the motorcycle I spoke of through the Kodak Gallery site.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=nmm3nir.5g8f864v&x=0&y=-ek5yyw&localeid=en_US&cm_mmc=site_email-_-site_share-_-core-_-view_photos_button

If this doesn't work, and you would like to see my pride and joy, please let me know and I'll try something different.....

I hope you enjoyed my story. I sure did because it took me right back to this special time.