Wanee 2017
It is a gorgeous Spring day in the country: deep grey clouds illuminating the new green of the leaves and grass, strong winds flipping leaves upside down so that they shine silver in the glimpses of sunlight. The blossoms of the wigelia bush are fragile, exquisite, creamy and pink, yet I can't provide photos because satellite internet in these deep woods is affected by the cloud cover. I cannot send photos from my phone at all. I can at best, and at a painfully slow speed, gather those random picture on my desktop. I practice being patient, but in fact am not. I want to get my money's worth out of this crappy, expensive internet option. It is not to be. I have to back off, settling for gratitude for what I have.
What I do not have are all the cool photos of the colorful, happy crowd, many dressed in silly costumes. I do not have the cool photos of the stages with their unique artistry and the ones at night during the music performances with the light beams pouring through the crowd, shifting colors and shapes, making everything look as exciting as it feels. I don't take these anyway. I seldom take pictures because I am dancing. Mine are usually blurry anyway. And I can't be trusted to keep tabs on my phone, so I frequently leave it locked in the car and turned off. The internet at Wanee is even sketchier than here in the mountains, so it is a waste of battery to keep it on searching for a beam. Charging the battery is a hassle, especially when it results in a dead car battery. Not as much of a hassle as using the portajohn, worse at night when you don't know what you're not seeing and you can sometimes not find the latch to let you out. Not is it as much of a hassle as taking a cold shower in a grimy stall with bucketloads of hair on the floors and walls. But it is on the list of inconveniences that make a four day festival something of a herculean effort. Over time, everyone figures their own work-arounds, like swimming in the coffee-colored, alligator fraught Suwanee River rather than showering or hauling along water and a solar shower stall. I am a bit of a minimalist, using what I keep in my car for that emergency festival that may pop up on my radar. The basics include water, prayer flags, a solar light, hammock, ear plugs, eye mask, plastic bin, Dr. Bronner's and a scrub brush (have to wash my face and feet before bed...that's just how I roll). Each festival has its own special test: blazing sunlight, mud, frost or dust and it's best to be familiar with the venue in advance so you know how to situate your home base to weather the trials the best you can and what clothing to pack.
Here are the photos I have, probably enough to reveal that it is a fantastic time. Wanee is a favorite of mine because I get to see so many old friends and it is a lovely and accommodating venue. The line-up is usually pretty insane as well.
Look at that balance - not a drop spilled! And check out Laurie's awesome moustache.
Water bottle, parasol, belly dancing belt and flamenco dress - I am ready for another day of music
and good times with friends.
Laurie again!
This young woman must be having Wanee dreams...
Even the vendors give it their all. Tell me she is not the incarnation of a honey bee.
What I do not have are all the cool photos of the colorful, happy crowd, many dressed in silly costumes. I do not have the cool photos of the stages with their unique artistry and the ones at night during the music performances with the light beams pouring through the crowd, shifting colors and shapes, making everything look as exciting as it feels. I don't take these anyway. I seldom take pictures because I am dancing. Mine are usually blurry anyway. And I can't be trusted to keep tabs on my phone, so I frequently leave it locked in the car and turned off. The internet at Wanee is even sketchier than here in the mountains, so it is a waste of battery to keep it on searching for a beam. Charging the battery is a hassle, especially when it results in a dead car battery. Not as much of a hassle as using the portajohn, worse at night when you don't know what you're not seeing and you can sometimes not find the latch to let you out. Not is it as much of a hassle as taking a cold shower in a grimy stall with bucketloads of hair on the floors and walls. But it is on the list of inconveniences that make a four day festival something of a herculean effort. Over time, everyone figures their own work-arounds, like swimming in the coffee-colored, alligator fraught Suwanee River rather than showering or hauling along water and a solar shower stall. I am a bit of a minimalist, using what I keep in my car for that emergency festival that may pop up on my radar. The basics include water, prayer flags, a solar light, hammock, ear plugs, eye mask, plastic bin, Dr. Bronner's and a scrub brush (have to wash my face and feet before bed...that's just how I roll). Each festival has its own special test: blazing sunlight, mud, frost or dust and it's best to be familiar with the venue in advance so you know how to situate your home base to weather the trials the best you can and what clothing to pack.
Here are the photos I have, probably enough to reveal that it is a fantastic time. Wanee is a favorite of mine because I get to see so many old friends and it is a lovely and accommodating venue. The line-up is usually pretty insane as well.
Look at that balance - not a drop spilled! And check out Laurie's awesome moustache.
Water bottle, parasol, belly dancing belt and flamenco dress - I am ready for another day of music
and good times with friends.
Laurie again!
This young woman must be having Wanee dreams...
Even the vendors give it their all. Tell me she is not the incarnation of a honey bee.