Strawberry Fields Festival was one of the most amazing events in my life. I was 18 and left Louisiana hitchhiking to explore my world. I was staying in a commune apartment over a Free Store in Allentown, Buffalo, New York when I heard about the festival. The problem was the Vietnam War was going on and a lot of draft dodgers were trying to go across the border into Canada. Nixon had started troop withdrawals and had instituted a draft lottery and my number was 270 so there was little chance of me being drafted (they drafted up to the mid 100's if I remember correctly). I didn't have much money and I looked like 'Jesus' (long hair and a beard) and was wearing a Army Service Uniform. Needless to say, they wouldn't let me cross.
However, I found a ride across the border and was soon on my way. The ride that got me to the site was with some Tennessee hillbillies who claimed to be from Alexandria, VA. They sneaked me into the festival in the trunk. Later, they were letting people in for free. After they parked, I went looking for a place to stay, as these hillbilly rednecks were not exactly my cup of tea. Like a dummy, I left my bags...and I never saw them again.
I hadn't walked far when someone cried out, "Hey, anyone have any papers?" Me and about ten other people made a beeline for the voice and somebody had some papers because before long the joints were flying...and so was I.
The stage had been set up near the grandstands at the Mosports Race Park with the majority of the people taking up positions within the oval track. About 80,000 people attended the concert and there was a sea of people jammed like sardines in a can as I worked my way up towards the stage. People were literally grabbing my leg and setting my foot down so as it would contact earth instead of some hapless person's body. Several times I fell but I never seemed to disturb anyone. Finally, at about 70 yards out, slightly right of center, there was a bare patch of grass about four feet in diameter. Surveying the scene quickly, I saw the most beautiful girl ever sitting at the front left of the opening, with a large picnic basket immediately behind her. I asked and she said yes...I had found my spot. I sat to the left behind her and started to talk to her. No sooner had I sat down than another guy came along asking if he could sit. "Help yourself" was the answer and he sat in front and to my right, quickly filling the space that had existed only moments before. Minutes later, a very high, lean, beautiful, sexy, and NAKED girl fell right on top of me. I didn't mind. She struggled up, I touched her as much as possible 
, and she was on her way, sure to make somebody's day and night.
I'll pause here for a quick revelation. I had only recently started to smoke weed but sexually I was still a virgin. This is NOT what an 18 year old boy wants to be. So, although I welcomed placing my hands on this gorgeous NAKED, female, lady, girl, I did so tentatively and not aggressively...just so you would know.
I began to lament to Lilly about how I was ripped off by those hillbillies and was now shoeless with only the clothes on my back. She must have felt sorry for me and she invited me to stay with them. What I didn't know at the time was that she wasn't talking about staying at the festival but at her house in Toronto. Her older brother would come to get her (us) around 4:00 in the morning, take us to the house where we would shower, sleep, and eat, and then after her mother fixed another big basket of food (enough to share with others), we would head back to the concert for another fun-filled day of sex (imagined), drugs, and rock & roll.
SEX: I didn't actually see or experience any actual sex but nudity seemed to be the theme and boy did I get my eyes full. But, of course, as I have already stated, Lily was just awesomely beautiful and had she not been manic/depressive (bipolar), I probably would have stayed longer than a week at her house. Her mood swings were more violent than an angry bull in the rodeo and I would NOT be riding her.
DRUGS: The guy that sat down when I did opened the drawstrings of a little leather bag. He pulled out a block of some gooey black Turkish hash. He asked us if we would like to share. I did, she didn't. I was sitting in a lotus position, eyes closed, arms extended straight out from my sides with thumbs pointing upwards as I held a hit of hash for as long as I could. I was trying to make a statement (like trying to appear cool) I guess. When I opened my eyes, just feet away was a CBC news camera capturing my coolness in all its glory. My breath came rushing out as I bent down embarrassed, trying to escape the world's eyes that had just been upon me only seconds ago. I always knew that it was good footage and was sure that it had been on the evening news later that night. I can't tell you how excited I was when Hermes TM posted that link of a CBC news clip. I had contacted CBC and looked high and low trying to see if any footage of my 5 seconds of fame was available. I never had any luck. How eagerly I watched that clip. Was that the naked girl that fell on me? Did I recognize some of those bodies in the lake? Some of the faces in the crowd? Alas, I wasn't in the video. It did bring back some fond memories, though. Thank you for that, Hermes TM, thank you.
ROCK & ROLL: Late at night (early morning), I remember Sly & the Family Stones. What a strange creature he was. Nevertheless, he was JAMMING. Before bling, there was shine. Sly was shining. Do I remember very big sunglasses? Alice Cooper had props on stage. He sat like some fairytale girl in a window sill and I remember wondering if he was unsure of his sexuality but I remember that he was pretty good. Grand Funk Railroad stole the show for me. Never have three musicians made as much sound as Mark Farner, Don Brewer, and Mel Schacher did. They were INCREDIBLE! Also incredible was Ten Years After. Great rockers! Procol Harem and Eric Burdon and Jethro Tull also were great. I especially remember Ian Anderson of Tull playing the flute like a maestro, like I imagine the Pied Piper to be. Simply awesome! Mountain was good, a great example of Southern rock and the Youngbloods' "Get Together" is still classic. For a refreshing change, I remember Melanie.
Also, someone asked if Sha Na Na was there. I think they were. I'm not sure but I saw them somewhere and I think it was here.
Beside all of the beautiful naked goddesses strolling around like we were in Eden, there was one other moment that stood out at Strawberry Fields. It was when the helicopter flew over dropping flowers on the crowd and the announcers thanking everybody for coming together and making it such a success.
I grew up a whole lot that summer of love. No longer did I live in a box.