As the summer is coming to an end and I have face the looping monster that is college, I find myself yearning for the beginning of the summer-- a time when life was carefree and beautiful. From June 16th through the 19th, I experienced the best days of my life. Nestled away in the fields behind the Dover Downs Raceway was my little slice of heaven, Firefly Music Festival.
I miss waking up in a tent to the smell of bacon frying over a kerosene fire and music sound checks far off in the distance. I was surrounded by 30,000 other campers experiencing the same thing as I. But out of all those people, there was my boyfriend and I-- nobody else really mattered. It was our adventure.
I understand how nostalgically mushy I am sounding, but looking back, that is how it really was. Every moment was bliss, near perfect.
I miss the positivity. Everybody that I encountered was unique and had a story of their own to tell, but conversely, they were all the same. Every single person contributed to the overall atmosphere of positive energy. It poured out from every hug, friendly exchange, and warm smile.
As well as positive attitudes, everyone was beautiful in the unique way that only festivals can provide. The 90,000 people there appeared to have been caught in a glitter thunderstorm, it was in their hair, clothes, and maybe event their teeth. There was a disheveled elegance to everyone's appearance. You didn't care if your hair was greasy, if you smelled bad, or if you were covered in a film of dirt. All you cared about was if your press-on jewels were staying on your face and if you had enough water to stay hydrated.
I haven't even began to talk about the music. The artists preforming were absolutely incredible. The first group I saw was Of Monsters And Men and they completely set the tone for the rest of the festival. But by far my favorite was Florence and the Machine. Watching her preform under the night sky, lights flashing and her voice filling the air, was my most vivid memory. It was the last night I was there, seeing as I had to leave earlier than usual on Sunday, and it was the finale of my foray in Firefly. I remember my boyfriend's arm around my shoulders, but not even registering his presence because I was so enveloped in Flo's voice.
After Florence and the Machine, I was wiped out. I went to bed that night before the festival was shut down for the night. I almost didn't mind getting woken up by the raging music and hordes of people travelling back to their tent at the end of the last performance at 2:00 in the morning
So as my last days of summer are coming to an end, I miss those short days of freedom and adventure. But I look to the future with the hopes that there will be more days like that to come.
