I spent fall break on the road, and it was really rough. I took off on a road trip throughout the Midwest as soon as my last class on Wednesday was over. After a few hours I passed through Dayton during rush hour, and then became victim to Cincinnati road construction before crossing over the border into Kentucky.
Crossing the Ohio River is like traveling to a different time zone. I soon found out that people aren’t really concerned about being on time in Kentucky. Everyone goes by “Kentucky time,” and the pace doesn’t just slow down; it almost stops. But the longer I waited, the more I began to realize that it would be great if everyone used “Kentucky time.”
After all, if everyone took the hussle and bustle out of their lives and stopped to enjoy things once in a while, then maybe everyone would be more relaxed and laid-back. Forget the nervousness of being a little late for a test, or the surprise of being really early for work because a class let out early. I pass many people on campus everyday that are always in a hurry. I think people get so caught up with the daily routine of their lives sometimes and they forget to look around to smile and chat with someone on the street.
Of course, everything has a schedule. I go to class and work and always have homework. I’m so thankful when Friday is finally here because I make a point not to do anything school related until Sunday night. I have to travel and do other things instead.
After leaving “Kentucky time,” I crossed the Ohio River once again and made it back to Bowling Green by Friday to listen to the Shantee at Howard’s. They always put on a good show and even covered a Bob Marley tune and a Pink Floyd song. Friday and Saturday nights are amusing because I see so many people getting drunk and stumbling bar to bar. It’s great to see everyone forgetting their weekly schedules and getting funky at the bars. I’m usually one of those people if there’s a band I want to see.
Getting funky was really important on Saturday as I made the trek to Frontier Ranch right outside of Columbus to see the Recipe and Ekoostik Hookah perform. The music started at noon, but I finally made it in time to catch some fresh air, a cool buzz, and a relaxed atmosphere. There is nothing like camping and sitting around a campfire with some good friends in the crisp, cool air.
The music festival season is almost over and the winter weather is making its way to the Midwest. Soon it will be too cold to camp, and I’ll have to make the trek to see bands like the Other Ones perform indoors in Cleveland and Pittsburgh. I’ll be staying with friends or in a hotel instead of sitting around a campfire. Seeing bands perform indoors is all right, but doesn’t compare to the atmosphere of an outdoor festival.
Outdoor performances are better because the owners usually allow camping, and it’s a lot safer for people that want to drive home at night but aren’t really supposed to. Next spring starts the camping and music festival season again though, and I’ll be able to sit around and be lazy and laugh with some good friends. Being at an outdoor festival is like being on “Kentucky time,” because everything gets done eventually; it just takes a little, or sometimes a lot longer.
