There and Back Again

Pondering: In my country the atmosphere is poisoned. Un-breathable for those of us who are not on the right. So thank you for inviting me to this festival and allowing me to live there for a few days. (Jessica Lange)
Listening to: Portions for Foxes (Rilo Kiley)

Today was the third and last day of the Austin City Limits Music Festival and I am exhausted, heartbroken and happy for the memories brought by this exciting experience.

Sis and I went to the Zilker Park around 200 PM. We grabbed lunch and caught the performances of Rilo Kiley and Jason Mraz from under the shade of a giant tree to the left of the stage. It was a comfortable spot although it was right next door to rows and rows of porta-potty stalls. No, it did not bother me and the rest of us camped out there that these stalls were right behind us.

When Jason Mraz finished his set, my sister and I left the comforts of our shaded spot and moved to where we could at least see the giant screens flanking each side of the SBC stage. We did this not because we liked to sit in the sun but because we needed to be (just a bit) closer to the stage for Coldplay’s performance later that night. They were, of course, the main act of the evening, and of the entire festival.

After an hour of waiting in the sun, Franz Ferdinand came on stage and rocked the park! That took my mind of the sun but didn’t take my mind of the irritating smell of cigarette smoke being blown from all directions. I guess it’s too much to ask for a smoke-free festival. In addition to the second-hand smoke, dust from the parched ground got stirred from the increased foot traffic as everyone headed to the SBC stage for Coldplay and because it was near-end of the day. Visibility was getting lower and lower as evening dusk settled.

We inched our way a bit closer to the middle of the crowd after Franz Ferdinand left the stage but a few minutes later, the choking dust got too much and we had to step back, all the way back in search of a fresher air. Everyone was coughing and laughing at the same time. I prayed people would just stop moving so that the dust would settle but that was too much to ask for as well.

We stepped farther and farther back as the clock ticked closer to 830 PM, still searching for breathable air. It was nowhere to be found that evening. In the end, we had to “watch” Coldplay from far, far, far away. I was so heartbroken. It was like buying your favorite ice cream after a long day’s work and before you could get your first lick of the tasty cold treat someone knocks the cone off your hand. Anyway, we made do with what we had and where we were. Even from afar, Coldplay was still awesome and enjoyable to “watch” and listen to. The stars in the evening sky were out and everyone was in a jovial mood, singing along to Yellow and Speed of Sound like there was no tomorrow. The guys rocked my world even from afar. I’m just thankful I had the chance to see them at Shoreline last month.

So my first ever music festival experience ended tonight. I am pooped but rich in memories of fun, sun and music. Maybe next year I’ll go again, who knows? I’d know better to bring lawn chairs and surgical masks next time…