As a native of the Mid-Atlantic east coast
region, one thing we can always predict is the weather. We
can predict it to be unpredictable. Who needs weather.com? Save
it. You’re only wasting your time. The forecast
will change 27 times before the actual day arrives.
This is the time of year we transition from spring (which
around here lasts for about two weeks) into summer (which lasts
about six months). So, knowing all of this, how does
one prepare for an outdoor music festival?
Mother Nature has a twisted sense of humor when it comes to
east coast jazz festivals. She has been known to throw
some wicked weather curves our way. One of my friends
remembers freezing one year, drinking hot chocolate, and watching
the festival while wrapped a warm blanket – in June! More
often than not, we get the three H’s – hazy, hot,
and humid. Just imagine sitting in a sauna all day with
your clothes on. Everyone is sweating. Those of
us with hair either have it plastered to our heads or puffed
up like a ball of cotton candy. The three H’s will
inevitably lead to thunderstorms of biblical proportions. Oh,
how much fun we have trudging back and forth through the mud,
mud, and more mud!
Have I mentioned the cicadas? In 2004, we had lots of
company at one of our festival outings. It seems the
red-eyed Brood X buggers were out and about en masse, enjoying
themselves and taking in the music after spending 17 years
underground. Who can blame them? After 17 years underground,
they’re starving for some good music and pleasant company.
So, how does one prepare? The festival begins this evening. The
weather calls for it to be in the mid-70s, very humid, and an
80% chance of precipitation. This year as we prepare to
make our annual trek, we’ve got all bases covered. We’ll
take our fur parkas, blankets, and a thermos full of hot cocoa
because the temperature could drop significantly in the next
three hours. We’ll also take our umbrellas, rubber
fishing boots, and a couple of floatation devices for the torrential
downpour that we know is heading our way. We’ll also
pack mosquito netting in case any of 2004’s cicadas told
their friends about the great time they had. We’ll
pack our shorts, t-shirts, and sandals in case summer decides
to come early. Last, but not least, we’ll pack a
sense of humor, because we’ll definitely need it when
dealing with the weather around here.
- Mary Bentley |
