FAR OUT

The only thing 'my old man" had when I met him, were these old rock posters from the 1960's. As his 'old lady' (and I really am now), this was the year that I finally had them framed. Only 40 years after the fact. These concerts were held in San Francisco at the Avalon Ballroom - a big deal in its day. Big Brother and the Holding Company held many concerts there and was the group that played with Janis Joplin before she went out on her own. Some others were Jefferson Airplane, the Greatful Dead, Canned Heat, among other big names of the day. I'm feeling a little politically incorrect tonight. Back then, my old man and I were hippies. Do any of you remember the 60's? It is said if you remember the 60's, you weren't there...Boy, how things have changed.

Woodstock was more than a concert: it was a movement toward a new America (or so they said). We burned our bras. Brought about the end to the horrible Vietnam war. New words were coined by the Woodstock generation; far out, peace, out of sight, wigged out, munchies, doobies, trippin', truckin', orange sunshine... It really was a new age.

The Stones were my favorite band. Liked the Doors too. They said the 60's died after the Stone's concert at Altamont, when Hell's Angels, protecting the stage, killed a concertgoer; an end to the hippie Woodstock generation and their mantra, peace and love. Those days were long ago and far away. A toast to all of us that made it out alive. Like the words from the Greatful Dead song said, "what a long, strange trip its been."