IN THE WAKE OF BONNAROO

Another Bonnaroo has come and gone. For the most part, fans of the music
festival were polite and respectful and most had a wonderful time.

Tragically, the abuse of drugs and alcohol has taken the lives of two young
out-of-towners, robbing them of all life had in store, leaving their parents
to mourn bitterly for their return.

One father's memory of Manchester will forever be, "that's where I came to
identify my 22-year-old daughter, who died from a drug overdose at
Bonnaroo."

The greatness of the event has been dampened by the sadness that lingers
over it like a dark cloud, robbing the joy that should have accompanied such
a defining moment in history.

Whatever happened to good, clean fun? Is it necessary to get totally smashed
out of our minds to enjoy anything? How can we make memories when we don't
remember what we did?

The young Bonnarites, whose lives had just begun, chose to get high rather
than face life's realities. It was not enough that they were attending the
greatest music festival in America. Why cloud such a real experience with
the haze of drugs?

Regretfully, when drug pushers entice young folks into thinking they can
escape reality, they aren't kidding.