It was August of 1969, the summer after my freshman year of college. As I prepared for my return to school, I learned of an outdoor concert that I wanted to attend before hitting the books again. It was to take place on a 600-acre farm in Bethel, New York. Of course, I speak of Woodstock.

As I made arrangements with a few friends to make an end-of-the-summer 5-hour journey to this “happening” event in upstate New York, my plans were shattered by my father. He suggested I not go. As a police officer, he heard of the possible unrest. He never told me that I couldn’t go, but when Dad strongly suggested something to me, I seldom ignored his advice. Initially, I was glad not to have made the trip. A mostly rainy weekend with more than 500,000 concert-goes didn’t sound like it would have been a pleasant time. However, as the stories developed and the legend of Woodstock grew, I will be forever disappointed that I heeded my father’s advisement, as I missed being at one of the most significant moments in Rock ‘n Roll history.

As I reminisced about Woodstock, I thought back to 1969. It was certainly a year for the ages. It’s hard to believe all these events occurred in the same year…40-years ago.
•    Jets upset Colts in AFL-NFL Super Bowl
•    Elvis makes his comeback
•    Nixon becomes president
•    Beatles make last public performance
•    The Godfather novel is published
•    Midnight Cowboy released
•    John Lennon – Yoko Ono “Bed-In”
•    Neil Armstrong walks on the moon
•    Tate / LaBianca Manson murders
•    Ted Kennedy Chappaquiddick incident
•    Hurricane Camille responsible for 248 deaths
•    Vietnam My Lai Massacre
•    Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid released
•    Beatles Abby Road released
•    The Brady Bunch premiered
•    Miracle Mets win World Series
•    First ARPANET link (progenitor of the Internet)
•    Dave Thomas opens first Wendy’s
•    First Draft Lottery since WW II

1969. A year for the ages.
(Thanks to Wikipedia for helping to refresh my memory.)