My 'roo 08 story - a tad long, sad/happy?

We bought our VIP passes on day 1 and my concert buddy says if I bail she'll "kick my ass". So, I have to go, right?

Months go by and we've been planning everything. We have our packing list, checked it about a bazillion times. We have everything ready. But then, Wednesday evening before Bonnaroo, my mom calls and my grandmother has fallen in her home and is going to the Emergency Room. This is 9:45PM. This is my last remaining grandparent and the one grandmother I ever cared about. We went to the ER and after about 2 hours we were able to go in and see her. They had done a CT scan and there was no brain activity and she wasn't responding to pain or anything. Her blood pressure was real low but they worked and brought that up. She was on a respirator, looking old, frail and so unlike the fiery lady I've always known. As her BP went up, she seemed to be a little better. She responded by shrugging her shoulders, the only movement she could make, when we spoke to her. We went home for the evening when they moved her into ICU.

Before we left, I talked to my mom and my sister and agreed that I'd go ahead and go to Bonnaroo. We live in Knoxville, ~3 hours away. It was close enough that if something changed and I had to come back, I'd just rent a car and head back (I was a rider on this trip with my bud as she has the van). If my grandmother pulled through, I'd see her when I got back. I finally got home about 2:30AM. It took another hour or so to get to sleep. Was I doing the right thing? What if she dies and I never see her again? Did she even really know I was there? If she dies and I never see her, will she know it? So many questions. So much indecision. But I had decided I would be at my first 'roo.

7:00AM Thursday came and no calls from the hospital and it's time to go. I've been up for 2 hours getting stuff ready. We pack up the van and head on down. We get to the VIP checkin and it's a breeze. We're both excited as hell and can't wait to get in. They give us directions to the festival site and we head on our way. We've been listening to music, blaring loud and having a helluva good time on the drive down. Sometimes, I think of my grandmother. How is she doing? If she goes, will she go peacefully? Am I doing the right thing?

So, we get in line behind this Honda Pilot packed to the rim with all kinds of stuff. We'll find out why later. We take pictures of the arrival and as we're sitting in line, the driver gets out of the Honda and comes back to us. She asks if we mind going on around them because they have about 10-11 cars all in one group and they want to make sure to stay together. We say sure, we're virgins and don't have any concept of what we're doing. Well, her face lit up and she says "Bullshit! You're coming with us! We can't leave virgins on their own! You stay close to us!" Little did we realize what we were in for.

After we get in through the checkpoint, we're like a bunch of crazies driving to nab the perfect spot. The attendants are trying to tell us where to go and we're doing our own thing. They finally gave up after making sure we'd fit in the lines of our spaces. We had people from Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland and Oklahoma in the campground. We were a varied group.

As we got out, we found we were going to be a part of the Inforoo VIP Tiki Bar and Campground. It was karma and fate that brought us together. There are so many good stories of things we did with this group, it will have to be its own post. But to say that we partied would be a gross understatement. We were taken under the wings of the most incredibly wonderful people we could ever hope to meet.

We start setting up our section of the campground (we kept the entire middle section open for congregating and partying). We get everything finished and it's time to crack the first beer. Rule #1 - set up camp quickly and first before the partying starts. I check my phone and there's a message from home. I call and my grandmother has passed away. She passed about 1:00PM (Eastern) - just about the time arrived and started getting set up. She went peacefully. We had no idea when the services would be - wouldn't find out until later Thursday evening. We went to the VIP reception and ate and drank and got to feeling pretty good. A nice distraction. We ended the evening by going back and getting to know the folks in the Tiki bar campground a bit more. Did I say they are awesome people? We find out that night that services won't be until Monday or Tuesday. So, even if I go home, there's nothing I can do. So, I'm staying.

We get up Friday AM and head off for a walk. We head back towards Shakedown Alley and just looking at everything. I've been doing pretty good but then my mind wanders. I think back to 1999, when in a span of a few months I lost my 12-year old German Shepherd, my dad and my brother (in that order). The movie The Matrix came out and it spoke to me in many ways. As we walked, I mentioned it to my bud, how the Matrix will always be associated with the death of my favorite dog, my dad who I never had a good relationship with and my brother I had only know for 10 years. And now, Bonnaroo will always be associated with my grandmother's death.

As I said that, there were three people (early 20s) walking in front of us, one girl and two guys. The girl turns around and says "That's the saddest story I've ever heard." And then she hugged me. Then the two guys did. All of a sudden it was a group hug. From people who I had never seen and would probably never seen again. That touched me in a great way.

The shows were amazing and I saw bands that I had wanted to see but hadn't gotten the chance before. Or had seen and wanted to see again. I think Pearl Jam was "the" show. But Stephen Marley, Donavon Frankenreiter and Little Feat were my next favorite performers. I really like the Disco Biscuits and Golo Bordello (thanks camp mates for that recommendation). The music kept me distracted and happy for an entire weekend. During the Gogol Bordello show, we sat down next to 2 guys who had gotten their tent robbed and all their stuff taken. They were hungry and thirsty so we gave them some corn we had. As we talked, they told us another couple had been sitting next to them and had gone to get them some beer. They, too, were from Knoxville. The two guys from Jersey were just amazed that people were that nice and they really liked the southern hospitality.

A final night party was held, some lasted at it longer than others. But me and my bud got up yesterday and headed home. We were tired but happy and completely sated. As we got closer to home, the weight of things began to get heavier. I knew Tuesday would not be a fun day. Well, we laid my grandmother to rest earlier today. I do and will continue to miss her. But I know I never would have made it through the weekend had I not been at Bonnaroo at the Tiki Camp... walking through the crowd and getting hugs from strangers who felt sympathy (though I was seeking none).

So, to the Inforoo VIP Tiki Bar and Campground folks - THANK YOU!! To the three young people, THANK YOU!!! This is what I think Bonnaroo is about.

This was an awesome experience - there's no doubt I'll be back.