Note: During this globally celebrated cultural event at its 50 year anniversary, Kismet is proud home to one of its stellar citizens, Tom Licari, esq., who was actually there

It is quite evident to all who know our fun loving lawyer that remnants of that experience still exist in Tom today.

 

 Here are some comments from the celebrant, himself

 

 

RECOLLECTIONS OF WOODSTOCK + 50

 

                                           by Tom Licari

 

As a Baby Boomer, looking forward to retirement, I cannot help but look back fondly at the definitive moment of my generation.  Two words come to mind fifty years later; transformative and crossroads.

 

Woodstock defined a generation of Baby Boomers, whether you were in high school as I was, college or beyond. 

This weekend of  peace and music had the long shadow of Viet Nam cast over it.

Yet, Viet Nam was only mentioned once with the County Joe and Fish song

 “One, Two, Three, What Are We Fighting For. Don’t Tell Me.

          I Don’t Give a Damn Next Stop Viet Nam…”.

 

It was transformative also because our generation was supposed to save the world, create a new and safe environment, conserve our resources, and live in a world of peace and harmony. 

We didn’t do a very good job of this as life, marriage, divorce, money and success all got in the way.

It was transformative in that fifty years later we still fondly look back at the Woodstock experience.

 

The music was the crossroads of the country, rock and roll, and folk rock: From  John B. Sebastian, Janis Joplin, The Who ,to CSNY, to the Grateful Dead.  The music was certainly eclectic.  Richie Havens was among the first to perform, and I recently found out that one of his definitive songs “Freedom” was completely ad libbed .

 

I remember sharing food and water amongst other things.  Someone brought up  barbequed sausages which were being passed around like joints (they tasted better).  Forty years later in Kismet, I found out who brought and passed around the sausages; it was Nancy Goldstein also from Kismet, now of Naples, Florida. 

 

It is funny that the rain and the storms really didn’t matter.  It was all about the music, peace and love.  Viet Nam was in the crosshairs, Nixon was about to get into trouble, Kent State was less than a year away and we just landed on the moon.  It truly was the crossroads on many levels. 

 

        (Tom from a newspaper picture then)

 

On a personal note, I was entering my senior year at Chaminade High School, an institution where we had to wear a suit, our hair had to be trimmed, and no facial hair. 

Summer was the only time we could literally let our hair down.  To obtain my parents’ permission to go to Woodstock, I was required to cut my hair and shave.  I I had the shortest hair of anyone in Woodstock and yet had the most memorable time of my life.

(Tom, now)