S. Rachel Lovey; Always dancing to the music!
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| Blogtress Lovey stays in shape in her "Urban Garden" in Los Angeles where she replenishes her spirit growing 5 varieties of herbs & nurtures over 65 plants including Ficus, Spider, Rubber tree, Cactus & more! |
Before you begin to read my latest & better-late-than-never entry into the Tie-Dyed Diaries; did you wash your hands & sanitize your mind? Groovy! First, rewinding to 2019 briefly when I did get a chance to hear Michael Lang in person (original Woodstock co-founder), discuss his plans for 2020, which would be the 51st Woodstock Anniversary. He spoke of doing 'Woodstock: The Broadway Version' but alas; Corona came calling! Allan Mann, the head of Earthlight, spoke of a progressive revival of Earthlight for 2020 and beyond, with the same contagious enthusiasm that maintained the celebration & enigma of the original Earthlight show--just as he did since the late 60's but 2020 said 'no way, honey'! For the 51st anniversary I wanted to do something with joyous intellectualism: a symposium and gathering. In other words, you had to be there to see what it meant; Covid-19 nicknamed me "Quarantina"!
.And forgive me.. 'I-so-late' on blogging this year, - ...You get it.
Of course, this year that would have been Woodstock's' 51st anniversary; there would be few gatherings, no revivals other than vague memories of the 1918 Pandemic, AIDS and ebola, and no one will sing and give their regards to Woodstock because Broadway - the great white way is closed. Instead of three days of peace, love & music; it's been 6 months of misery, social distancing and isolation. It's the great Pandemic of 2020. It's Covid 19; the highly contagious virus. Large gatherings like Woodstock that brought us such joy and celebration will not be tolerated. Even events like movies, weddings, concerts, night clubs, conventions & bar mitzvahs are big no-no’s in thier traditional settings. Perhaps maybe your mahjong group just may be super spreaders of this super disease formally known as Corona. Racial injustice & racial empowerment did bring back our 1st amendment right fast & furious. We marched for our brothers & sisters before & police brutality isn't brand new; unfortunately. Catching our collective breath, fist & annoying elbow bumps have replaced the hug and handshake, and it seems centuries away from the 60's classic hyper-social ‘love-ins’. Folks that die from this disease are most often in isolation and their last words to the family are often on a smart phone. Unlike"The Revolution", the Last Poets claimed would not be televised; this Pandemic, Covid 19, would be televised, and zoomed and zoomed-in some more and video tic-tocked while blurring the lines between virtual and reality. This was just what past prophets said would happen.
Imagine Woodstock on ZOOM? Or would that be ZOOM on LSD?
I can just imagine how some of the classic Woodstock song lyrics might sound today. If I asked Joni Mitchell "Can I walk beside you", she might answer "Only if you walk 6 feet apart and wear a mask".
Joe Cocker's response to "Can I get by with a little help from my friends" might be "only if they've seenquarantined for 14 days and not from Woohan".
Country Joe and the Fish might reply to it's famous battlecry "1, 2, 3, What are we Fighting For"? "..Respirators, hospital beds, openings of nail salons & Disneyland".
Janice Joplin might wail that Covid 19 took a piece of her brain, lungs and liver and not just her heart. Surely Sly & the Family Stone would still be getting higher but could they sing "Its a Family Affair" with grandma quarantined in the nursing home and having to wave to her through the window?
Joe Cocker's response to "Can I get by with a little help from my friends" might be "only if they've seenquarantined for 14 days and not from Woohan".
Country Joe and the Fish might reply to it's famous battlecry "1, 2, 3, What are we Fighting For"? "..Respirators, hospital beds, openings of nail salons & Disneyland".
Janice Joplin might wail that Covid 19 took a piece of her brain, lungs and liver and not just her heart. Surely Sly & the Family Stone would still be getting higher but could they sing "Its a Family Affair" with grandma quarantined in the nursing home and having to wave to her through the window?
Would Fauci replace Swami Satchinanda and be chanting only with people wearing masks and standing six feet apart while awaiting a table in a parking lot of a Marie Calendars?
Certainly The Grateful Dead would sing "what a long strange trip it's been". They sure nailed that one⏼.
Somethings Never Change; We MUST get ourselves back to the Garden 🙏...
