Why Can't I Stay Home?

Where are they dragging me out when I could stay home and watch episodes of "The Office" or "30 Rock"- or I could catch up on my homework while occasionally checking up on my Facebook page? It's easier being 13 inside.

At least it's sunny at Ocean Beach. Yesterday they said it was cold and windy and that you needed earplugs- not for the music but to keep the sand out of your ears. I like to help and volunteer and as my Mom and Dad check in to the volunteer booth, I hope I can help. It seems confusing and only Mom gets an orange shirt. Dad looks a little upset but he's not saying anything about it.

A lady takes us over to one of the two stages after asking if we want to be close or far away from the music. There are three big garbage cans lined for compost, recycle and trash and Mom and Dad's job is to be sure that the right stuff goes into the correct cans. I'll set up a blanket with my brother. It's about 10 and the music doesn't start until 11. We have snacks and books to read.

Mom is sorting with her hands while waiting for some gloves to arrive. Dad is going on a walk to check out the food and the displays for the guy, Warren Hellman. He pays for all this and I guess he still will, for years after his dying. All the artists that came out today are old friends who wanted to play at his public memorial. It's a pretty day, sunny and even a little bit warm and the beach is next to us.

My brother and I spent most of the day playing on the beach. We listened and watched some of the music but later when all the people came , it got too crowded to see. On the beach we had a lot of room to play and breathe. My parents stayed at their station longer than they were supposed to because no one came to relieve them. Six hours standing over garbage cans is a long time but then they came out and played with us on the beach. We played team keep away (me and Dad were awesome) until the sun started to go down as the last music and tributes finished. I'm feeling glad I came out but now I just want to go home and rest. A hot chocolate or soup would be nice and I hope I can sleep in tomorrow.

My Dad says that all the acts were good and that Hardly Strictly Bluegrass streamed the whole show- and still has all seven plus hours on their website for anyone to watch. One band even played a Whitney Houston song into a fun bluegrass rhythm. Dad says that a moment that captures the joy of performance, the interaction of musicians in the moment and how simple and perfect of just two people playing - is about 3 hours 40 minutes into the show (you can mark it on the stream) for the performance of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' "Six White Horses". I liked them. I guess I can always watch "The Office" later.