My path crossed that of the Rainbow Family back in - 1980 or 81, maybe, when I was at a different event out in South Dakota hosted by the Lakota Nation. They seemed pretty nice - worked like dogs, and were unfailingly cheerful, although they drew fire from the AIM folks for using too much water and going around naked in front of the elders (said elders actually didn't mind; some officious types just wanted to piss on the "white hippie trash.") We actually had a guest appearance by a real (double) rainbow while we were setting up for the big concert at the end, which struck me as poetic. I also got a giggle out of the fact that the "white hippie trash" were catching hell for bathing, although their excessive use of water was indeed inappropriate for that particular setting. There was a river not too far distant that they could have used, and that would have been a better choice.

Man, that was long ago. I honestly don't know what I'd do if I had time to take a real vacation again. Somewhere around here I've still got a rock shaped like a footprint that I picked up out there.