My Woodstock

A  L  O  H  A !

I made some leather macrame belts

and sold them to a shop.

Then I bought the tickets above.

It was the Summer I turned 16

and I bought my first motorcycle. 

 "2005 Ford GT" by marco_ely is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0  

Thursday night we drove up to 
New York State from southeast Pennsylvania

in an older friend's car that I remember 

as a low slung, white Ford GT40 Link  

very like photo above. Wow! My life at 

that time sounds exciting! 

It was. 1969.

 We woke up surrounded by thousands of friends, reports of closed highways, and no fences. Tucked the tickets in my pocket and lingered till saturday when it was just too much. 

We hadn't bought food, intending to buy at the concessions. Apparently most others thought the same. People shared what meagre provisions they happened to have. I recall savoring cherry flavoured Rizzla cigarette papers. 

All was peaceful and upbeat including friendly cops directing traffic who good naturedly refused proffered joints. People all seemed relaxed 
and happy just to be there. Be cool, man. 

Who knew there were SO many freaks?! That's what we called ourselves. Hippie is an invented word by outsiders, disdainful adults, Press. Max Yasgur owner of the land summed up what many initially angry locals had to say about us:

"I’m a farmer…(interrupted by a cheer from the audience)…

I don’t know how to speak to twenty people at one time, let alone a crowd like this. But I think you people have proven something to the world — not only to the Town of Bethel, or Sullivan County, or New York State; you’ve proven something to the world. This is the largest group of people ever assembled in one place. We have had no idea that there would be this size group, and because of that you’ve had quite a few inconveniences as far as water, food, and so forth. Your producers have done a mammoth job to see that you’re taken care of… they’d enjoy a vote of thanks. But above that, the important thing that you’ve proven to the world is that a half a million kids — and I call you kids because I have children that are older than you are — a half million young people can get together and have three days of fun and music and have nothing but fun and music, and I – God Bless You for it!”

I cry reading that now, as tears have flowed watching news about
the anniversary on TV News.

Saturday afternoon, we somehow got out on rural roads. I remember mud, and huge crowds of nice people. The performances were WAY down there and tiny. The press of the crowd any closer was too much for me despite the good vibes. I do seem to remember Richie Havens (who I had seen at the Second Fret in Philadelphia Link) kicking it off all by himself with just his guitar and great showmanship. 

Yes, I bought tickets and 

so helped pay for it all. 

⃤

PEACE, LOVE & UNDERSTANDING

to YOU!

                       cloudia

ca 1980

Since 1969

A  L  O  H  A !

" Story of My Bikes"

" A motorcycle functions entirely 

in accordance with the

 laws of reason, and a 

study of the art of 

motorcycle maintenance is

 really a miniature study 

of the art of rationality itself. "

Robert M. Pirsig, 

'Zen and the Art 

of Motorcycle Maintenance'

" Most motorcycle problems 

are caused by the nut

that connects the handlebars

 to the saddle. "

                  Biker Lore

That is my first bike:

1969 Suzuki.

What a faithful little pony!

My first motor vehicle,

and the freedom it brought.

Then for some years

I did not have a bike.

But when I met my blog-

invisible husband, his

1973 BMW motorcycle

was one of the reasons

he was The One!

" It takes more love 

to share the saddle 

than it does to 

share the bed. "

                Biker Lore

Legendary rides

together!

" Four wheels move the body. 

Two wheels move the soul. "

Biker Lore

Once established on Oahu

in the 1980's

I got this tough

Honda Magna:

Low & Strong & fast!

The bike that helped me

start a Women's

Motorcycle Club!

The winged woman

was my idea.

"Holding up Oahu!"

someone else added.

The rest is history.

We had to negotiate

the bottom "Rocker"

'Aloha State' with the

local outlaw clubs.

No two clubs can

claim the same turf.

It took some guts

to call ourselves a 

MC [ motorcycle club ]

because a lot of biker guys

didn't like it!

We did it anyway!

We rode hard.

We got the Respect.

Gene in his hangar

 Pilot/ mechanic who builds

aircraft and BMW motorcycles

from parts; Here Gene is completing

MY lilac 1973 BMW with the shiny

'Toaster Tank' My 1990's bike.

That it an even older black

'Shorty Tank' behind my seat.

Thanks blog-invisible husband.

Thanks, Gene!

" There are old pilots

and bold pilots;

but there are no old

AND bold pilots. "

            Pilot Lore

Look at those jugs!

(Boxer engine, based on

old, basic aircraft engines)

The BMW was a collectors item.

It deserved a garage.

It got very tall and heavy

as years went by.

2010

I switched to this 

Yamaha Zuma 125 Scooter,

a tough little punk

faster than most sports cars.

Zippy Fun!

I fancied myself quite HOT!

But probably looked more - 

So three weeks ago,

a big SUV

made a left

right into me.

I'm OK.

I was hurting quite a bit,

but that is not what this

blog is for.

Celebrating how THRILLED

I am to be OK,

and how I am out of pain:

THAT is worth sharing!

Thing is, I don't have a bike

for the first time in decades.

Feels strange.

Insurance wrote it off,

"Totalled" it,

and is sending me a check

Will I get another bike?

Ever?

Will I wait a while?

Who knows.

Here is the music

that started it all. . . 

in 1969. . . 

                    PEACE, cloudia

Fogerty Rocked Honolulu

A  L  O  H  A !    click all photos

Honolulu June5

 " Over on the mountain
Thunder magic spoke,
"Let the people know my wisdom,
Fill the land with smoke."

Better run through the jungle. . . "
                                             John Fogerty

Bob Malone keyboards

" I believe in God

but I also believe

in having fun

on my motorcycle.

These two things

are not incompatible.

Gas fumes

are more likely

to be around me

than incense,

but that is holy

as far as I am

concerned. "

                        The Reverend Lou Valone

" The Witness delights 
in the sheer joy 
of existence and 
knows it's power."
                         Greg Catchur 

Flashback!    1969!

Linking to

Our World Tuesday

[John is 70 years young!]

WOW!

                           cloudia

America's Oldest Folk Life Event and Me

"Aqua String Band - 2010 Performance" by Roniannacone - 

Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

If you are born in Philly 

[Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA]

like I was,

Mummery is in your blood.

And 

New Year's Day is 

MUMMER's Day!



When European immigrants 

from Scandinavia, 

and other 

parts of Europe began arriving 

in Philadelphia in the 

17th Century, they brought their 

Mummer traditions with them.



 On New Year’s Day, 

families and friends 

would “Mum” 

through their neighborhood,

making fun of the 'upper' 

classes, and asking for 

food or drink.  


“Here we stand before your door, 
As we stood the year before;
Give us whisky, give us gin,
Open the door and let us in.”


History types trace the word 

Mummer 

 to Greek mythology.

  King Momus was 

the personification of 

satire, mockery and 

censure.  Mummers 

can also be 

connected to the late 

Middle English word mommer 

and the Old French word momeur

which relate to miming, 

masking and 

very ancient 

folk traditions.


 While living in Philadelphia, 

first US President George Washington

continued the local 

tradition of greeting friends 

at New Year’s time.  



Because the Mummer tradition is

of the common folk,

associated with drinking

 and making fun

of their 'betters' 

Mummery has not always been 

smiled upon by 

official  Philadelphia.

In the 1800’s, the parade,

and masquerading itself

were even banned

for decades. 



But, Mummery continued 

Working class Philadelphia 

never stopped.

Steam fitters in sequins.

Working guys from the 

neighborhood, from the 

factory, practicing all year

to march on Broad Street.

[Women march 

in the parade now -

though it remains possibly

the world's best example 

of straight men

 in silly drag]



Mumming goes through the 

generations.

The people mumming today

shook hands,

with the people 

who shook hands

with the people

who were Mummers

back in the beginning.

Or so it is said.



This year, I was able
to watch the parade
streaming live from Philly.

The music, the accents,
the city. . . 
It's all in my blood.

Mumming in Philadelphia
will live long after me.
But I like to think
that part of my soul
will go on doing the

"Mummers Strut"
on New Year's Day.

I've been practicing
All Day!

Happy New Year!

From Around the Way

                          cloudia

The unofficial theme song of the Mummers is
 “Oh, Dem Golden Slippers,” written in 1879 
by James Bland, an African American songwriter-

“Oh, dem golden slippers
Oh, dem golden slippers
Golden slippers I’se goin’ to wear
Because they look so neat
Oh, dem golden slippers
Oh, dem golden slippers
Golden slippers I’se goin’ to wear
To walk the golden street”


Historical Link

See Average people
doing the Mummers Strut-
under 1 minute: