Cornerstone Wrapup

We've been home from Cornerstone for almost a week. Unfortunately, that little thing called "work" has prevented me from blogging about the fest here. I've posted quite a bit to www.cornerstonefestival.com/blog (I'm one of the volunteers who writes content there).

Even with the other great vacations we're able to take at this season of our lives, our week at Cornerstone Festival in the cornfields of western Illinois remains my favorite week of the year.

When I explain that Cornerstone is a music festival, people generally assume the music is what makes it my favorite week. Actually, that's not it at all.

Some people wonder if it's my favorite week simply because I'm not at work. Well, after just having had 8 weeks off, that's not it either.

Cornerstone is my favorite week of the year because of friends. The music may be the outward excuse we give for driving 1000 miles one-way. But, the friendship is really what keeps bringing me back.

It was an awesome week, hanging out with friends shown in the photo. They come from Chicago, Grand Island, Atlanta, and Austin. The weather was great other than the last 24 hours or so when we had rain, but that just added to the experience. The big best show for me was one down at main stage in the rain - seeing Anberlin (and having the sound guy working in their favor this year, rather than a few years ago when it was nothing but bass). The best smaller show was probably Seabird. We picked up quite a few albums - I'm sorting thru them to find out which are keepers.

But, alas, I'm now back at work and no longer laughing & hanging out with great friends in what used to be a cornfield. Oh well... Next year, just outside Bushnell!