May 24, 2021
What historical/public figure would you most like to learn more about? Would you ever write about them?
As a kid, I had crushes on Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, at least as TV shows and movies portrayed them. As I got older and dug deeper into their stories, I realised that there was a darker side to their stories and some of the shininess wore off.
The same is true for President Kennedy, war hero, devoted husband and father, and man with an alleged mistress or two. How about Mother Teresa, who is said to have ignored basic sanitary practices in some of her facilities aand worse.
You get the point. It’s hard for me to find a hero to worship. So, who would I like to learn more about, knowing that they will be imperfect?
I’m going to switch things up. Instead of a person, I’m going with an event. I’d like to spend a day or two at Woodstock. Listen to the music, dance, make new friends. Embrace the vibe and find out what really went on. No movie or collection of songs or interview with someone who was there can convey the total experience.
Yes, history can and does happen in our lifetimes.
Yes, I’m sure I’d find the downside. The people on bad trips. The too-long waits to go to the bathroom. No water or food. The thunderstorms and nowhere to sleep.
Would I write about it? Sure, why not? I wonder how my wolf shifters would have participated to Woodstock? As a matter of fact, how would they react to psychoactive drugs? Hmm. I sense a wrinkle to a future story.
Now, before I plot the future of my hero, I need to go check out who the other authors would like to know more about. Just follow the links below to find out.
And, as always, blease stay safe until next time!
May 24, 2021
What historical/public figure would you most like to learn more about? Would you ever write about them?
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Ah, yes, Woodstock. I’d loved to have seen all those bands, but sadly I was only about 12 and wasn’t really aware of the festival going on at that time.
I am slightly older than you, but wasn’t into music in general at that time. With the way Woodstock has been romanticized, I’d love to see the truth of the event for myself.
I like to think of the effect of what these people did, as much as who they were. You can be both good and bad and yet your life can change the world.
True. But then you have to weigh if they did more good than harm, and I don’t want to be the one making that decision.
I have a good friend (somewhat older than me) who was at Woodstock. She says mostly what she “remembers” was a lot of drugs, her ears beaten by the music, and a lot of sex with random men in the mud. Would she do it again? She says not. “It’s what you do at 18 when your daddy has so much money you can afford to helicopter into an event. I would certainly try to talk my daughter out of it.” Quoting Josephine.
But Woodstock somewhat spawned the Rainbow Gatherings, which is what my daughter — an itinerate musician — has been involved in. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Gathering
I’m familiar with the concept behind rainbow gatherings, but have never been to one. It’s a shame that what started out as a celebration of love has been given such a bad reputation.
My daughter explains that bad apples show up and it’s hard to control them. For example, she was at the gathering in Florida that burned down a forest. It had nothing to do with her group. Recognizing that she grew up camping in Alaska (where black spruce catches fire just by looking at it), her group had designated her the fire marshal and they were being careful. But there was yahoos who weren’t. The fire started and it moved so fast, Ivyl and her group had to abandon anything that wasn’t in the van. She lost a good tent and all of her clothes. Now the organization established a board of fire marshals. She was part of that for a few gatherings and she says she still got flack from people who don’t like rules. She doesn’t really like rules either, but she points out that sometimes they’re necessary and the alternative is no gatherings.
Forest fires in Florida are no joke. It’s isn’t only the trees that burn, the fires can get into the peat and burn for a long time.
Same here in Alaska. There’s a peat fire that’s been burning in the Healy area for over half-a-century. It’s gotten into at least one coal seam and that was an exciting summer for fire fighters. And it’s an inhabited area, so a friend once came home to discover his cabin burned down while he was at work.
I would have loved to have attended Woodstock. I am generationally out of time from a musical standpoint. My favourites include artists like Elton John, Kiss, AC/DC and the Rolling Stones to name a few. Thankfully, I have been fortunate enough to see them all live.
I got to see a Elton John/Billy Joel performance back in the 90s. I used to get teased, because at one point my two favorite artists were the Johns- Elton John and John Denver.
Wow.
Hi Patricia, I am always delighted to see how everyone else interprets the prompt. It never occurred to me to look for a historical figure I admire. I am fascinated by the darkest people in human history. There are a lot of writers I would love to talk too. I would be interested in learning more about their lives and inspiration.
I always laugh at myself when I twist the prompt. I’m the one posting them, you think I’d learn by now to twist them to my way of thinking before I share them!