[redwitch]

I didn't make Woodstock, but did make the Monterey Pop Festival. It seemed a great way to kick off the summer after a grueling year at UCLA. Had never heard of most of the groups that were playing, but what an impact they had on me! To this day, Janis can send shivers down my spine. I cannot hear Jimi without seeing him smash his guitar in my mind. The Who, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar ... I do remember being disappointed that Dionne Warwick (she was shown on posters as one of the acts) didn't show.

Many who saw this festival did become hippies. Many of us did not. The peace and love, the gentleness of that crowd was a beautiful thing to see but not expected. I did not drop out; neither did five of my friends who went with me, one did. I certainly didn't tune out. I did inhale. For me, it was the music. Always has been, always was. I did skip Altamont -- college was over and life was beginning (good thing, I guess).