By midday, the sun’s rays were warm, but the gentle crispness of the air reminded you it was still spring. The first thing you notice here, at Melody Park, are the towering, almost mystical oak trees. The attendants collecting cash for parking and directing traffic are wearing tie dye, dreadlocked, and greet you with a smile and a warm, “welcome home.” I have to remind myself to let go of my tension of my high stress life, and submit to this magical, welcoming place. With a deep breath, I park my car, gather my gear, and walk through the gates, where I’m now under the canopy of oaks.
Along with my group of friends, we scout a prime spot to pitch our tents, and assemble our hang out spot for the weekend. This is my first time at the Renewal music fest since my separation. My friends know that I may need some time to wander on my own this weekend, which is already beginning to feel liberating. Once we are all set up and settled, we sit under our group canopy, passing around a couple joints, and sharing our anticipations for the festival. The little amount of sun that crept through the oak trees is disappearing, and the night of music, dancing, and releasing tension is about to begin.