WOODSTOCK MEMORIES 3

1997 Reunion Memories from Dr. Xeno Rasmusson, son of musician, Buzzy Linhart. This is actually a recap of the 1997 Reunion activities, but points out that things really haven't changed much in 28 years. In spite of all of the normal obstacles (or maybe, BECAUSE of them)...magic still happens ...music still flows...and so does the rain. Most of all, Woodstock still brings out the best in all who attend.

During that time, I lived in Boston with my parents and at the age of soon 15, me and some other guys took off to join in. I'm glad to have been in the middle of it all when it happened. I can still wake up at nights and feel the smell of mud. Love to all of you others who where there.
Tommy Schuman

I was there in 69. Working with Santana.
John Fenech

Having grown up in Middletown, NY about a half hour ride down the thru-way, every year around August, my friends and I would gather our meager belongings and make the trek to White Lake for our Woodstock experience. The last time I went (I've since moved to Miami ) was the day Jerry Garcia died. A very sad day indeed, lots of bummed-out hippies staggering around. That year, 1995 I believe, was the last greatest event on the original site. Now I hear from friends and family that last year you couldn't even camp there or anything. What a shame. The most impressive thing that I remember ( besides skinny dipping with Tracy, a lovely free spirit ) was the amazing wooden bus these people from a Vermont commune had it was quite impressive. Also, there was quite a bit of commercialization there as well. People charging outrageous prices for water, hamburgers etc., but, of course, the best part was the music, the rain, and the overall vibe of being at the original site. I also attended a gathering there in 1989. That was great. If anything changes with the site this year or next, I will fly up there from Miami, because I have to get back to the garden...PEACE....
Wayne Grassfield

I was there in 69 and it had a profound effect on my life. It was one of the most intense experiences I have had. Trying to describe Woodstock to someone that hasn't been there is like trying to describe a color to a blind person. Went back to see the site for the first time this April with my two boys 11 and 13. It was a strange feeling to stand there at the monument with them and reflect on the 28 years that had passed since I was there.
John Duncan

I remember the music and the mud, but most of all I remember the people and the reason we were there.
Ken Husk

Wow, this is far out. I was at the original Woodstock and at the second one. We had so much fun. I ARRIVED A DAY EARLY AND WAS ONE OF THE ONES BY THE STAGE!! I MET ARLO GUTHRIE, JIMI HENDRIX, COUNTRY JOE MCDONALD AND CANNED HEAT. I caught Pete Townsend from The Who's guitar and have my tickets. But, Woodstock was more than drugs, music and fun. It was a gathering of people. A time where everyone lived in harmony for those 3 days. And we proved it to the world. People said it was a mess. It was a good time. I still remember it pretty good. It is something that I will always remember and cherish. When I die I hope to die with peace and love. And want to go to the big Woodstock in the sky. Keep up the Woodstock spirit and if you want to learn more about Woodstock and/or have comments, please e-mail me. Peace!
Kurt Pfeiffer

I spent the summer of '69 in Europe travelling around. There was a feeling of openness and sharing among many young people that was very special. It felt like there was an international youth community. I went to a number of rock concerts (there was a free one with the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park that could have turned into a riot) and a few rock festivals. I stayed with many of the people I met or just camped out. For some reason, I decided to return to America about a week before Woodstock. I met a guy on the plane who let me stay with him in his Manhattan apt. and when we heard about Woodstock we decided to go. We got there Sat. morning and parked God knows where on the highway. We walked in for a long way and came to the site and the whole place smelled like shit; it was very hot, humid, and muddy. It looked to me like many people were leaving and I thought what am I doing here? This is gonna be horrible. We sat down somewhere far from the stage and the music started and everything felt different. I could probably write pages on what the whole experience and others from that era means to me and how it changed my life. I had grown up in a very narrowminded, materialistic, competitive atmosphere where people measured each other by their posssessions, bank accounts, and achievements. Without all that, you were nothing. I learned that there was another universe of possibilities where people could be more open, share and let go of at least some of the masks and defenses. There was a feeling at Woodstock that we were all together in an America that didn't want us around. For me, Woodstock was an incredibly beautiful experience I will never forget. The music was a wonderful soundtrack, but it was ultimately the experience of the people that made it so special. Unfortunately it didn't last long, but it was a vision of possibilites. In the cabala, there is talk of awakening from above and awakening from below. Usually we have to do the work to change our normal reality, but sometimes we are fortunate enough to experience something extraordinary we didn't work for. For me, Woodstock was an awakening from above. I have since lived in a communal village and have seen how difficult it is to sustain openness and sharing. I was very naive in the 60's and didn't realize the work it would take to transform myself let alone society. There are times I get cynical and very pessimistic about the future, but I believe if enough of us work together, the world could really change for the better. I don't expect to experience another Woodstock in this lifetime, but I am grateful for having been there. I would like to hear from anyone out there who was there or by touched in some way by any of this.
Larry Sacks

I was one of the people that bought a three day ticket but never reached the festival. We were stuck on Route 17--about eight or nine miles from the site. We would have had to park the car and walk to Yasgurs farm. It wasn't the hike that was really the problem. It was the walking and carrying all of our supplies that was the problem. We just partied, and shared our food with all of the other freaks stranded on the road. We headed for home, but stopped along the way to party and picnic some more. I'm not much different now than I was then. (Once a hippie, always a hippie.) I know that I have passed on my old hippie ways to my sons, and they are now two wonderful young men. What is happening to the world, and most of the young people today, really hurts me. Peace,
Rachael Cornetta

I am proud to say I was there - the "whole world was watching" - and we were peaceful! All those people, and No Trouble! A beautiful thing.
Pat Butler

I was there even though there was a lot of rain and mud, that didn't matter because the music was what we were there for and we were not disappointed, the music was far out.
Doug McCuistion

I was 15 at the time and went up with friends of my brothers, he had to work that night and was leaving in the morning with others. My sister was also leaving then with her friends. Since my big sister and brother were going , mom said it was okay that I could go to. Well..... brother never got there,sister never made it,to much traffic. But the little sister made it. Sorry guys. Would have been nice to have the tent and food you were going to bring.
Carla Stampora-Kuntz

I've met a handful of Woodstockers since I moved to Hawaii from NY in 1985. Funny, my memories are of mud, the long, long walk from the car to the stage area, peaches along the way, first skinny dip, meeting the singer from my old rock group, the Runaways, from Canarsie, and inviting a lady friend who regrettfully could not go and reminds me almost 30 years later. Now I'm one of those ex-almost hippies who became a businessperson...
William H. Yee

I was there in '69. Went back in '94 [original site]. "Actually found someone who had sat within eyesight of me during the concert in '69. Remembered the Hamburger stand turned into a liberated "free kitchen" and other "actual occurrances". Quite a pleasant reminiscence. Didn't get laid again at Bethel '94, but wow did I have a good time anyhow talking to young kids about how the hippies really were. Power to the "Woodstock Generation" and their sons and daughters who would like to keep that great spirit of "Peace, Music and Love" together forever if only three days at a time." You may quote me on that. I'm now 47.
Cafe Casita

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