This weekend has been brutal.
Why? Oh, because my whole Texas-dwelling family was privileged enough to attend the Austin City Limits Festival.
Brutal? Because I couldn’t be there with them.
Convincing my brother to go see Pretty Lights:
…and getting back a rave review.
Having texts sent throughout the days of favorite songs by favorite artists and then at night, being sent videos from “the youtube” to show just how incredible certain shows were… painful. I love my family so much and I love Austin so much and I love live music so much… aww, man! [bratty pitty party going on here.]
And though I was bumming, I smiled all weekend at the thought of how much fun my fam was having. I loved every little bit of sharing they did with me… helping me feel like I was there… like I was remembered/loved/there in spirit.
My favorite thing that I got from my family this weekend was an email from my dad, received last night, that hardly mentions any music… but, somehow, he captures a music festival [the joy] perfectly…
“freebie field trench reporter:
It was a perfect day, no hypebole intended. We all had free ACL passes, Stevie Wonder & 25 other major acts in attendance. We had clouds, a miracle in itself, then RAIN: are you kidding? My oldest & dearest Tx Chainsaw Massacre house roomates/friends (77′) let us park in their driveway 4 blocks away from the entrance. They are so dear & kind & just returned from a badly needed vacation in Maui where Mom&I honeymooned/recovered in 81′. We embrace our love/friendship and go.
Walking downhill in that wonderful old S Austin neighborhood with various parties ‘goin’ on’ ,10 minutes later we are going thru the front gate in a lite rain & its NOT 105 degrees under unmerciful sun hoping that someone doesn’t throw a butt on the ground to start a fire. Miraculously pleasant compared to the last 6 months of biblical Drought.
We hook up with other couple whose kid also ditched ’em, and have a great & wonderful time. 10hrs later our kids decide they need a ride home. We reunite & head out with 60,000 other people walking down the street, goin home, shuttle, aftershow, bar, club, or wherever.
We take a right uphill turn apart from the herd. Its been a long & glorious day with less than usual severe physical demands under the elements, but yet we are tired & we trudge to return to our car, uphill. Mom has been doing fantastic all day with her leg endurance but now she voices concern as we go straight uphill. She takes my arm for support.
“I have some good news & some…….” Good news is the1st part is straight up & the hardest, Bad news is its all uphill. We trudge.
We crest the hill to take an immediate left turn & there is a party ‘goin on’ at the first house we see at the top of the hill. As we turn, on the curb on the right is a group of people mostly young women holding a bottle of whiskey saying ‘show us a tit & get a sip, men included’.
I immediately lift up my bright yellow tshirt & get my sip and Mom & Ry move over to the other side of the street & don’t talk to me for the next block.
It was a great hike back & so much family fun, how many times can you say that. A pleasant drive home with a phone call from you to add to that.”
And in about ten minutes, they’ll be watching my all-time fave, Arcade Fire, and I’ll be listening to “The Suburbs” in my kitchen, drinking wine, being there in spirit, dancing, singing, embracing the love/friendship.
wull hay. 