my own drum

I gotta tell you family, this is a poor choice for a National Rainbow Gathering. There is a good reason that we gather in forests and meadows of the mountains in this country, it's July and it's hot. If you have never spent a summer in the south central US then you are in for a surprise. God forbid that you should actually get anywhere near the Gulf of Mexico.

Please don't misunderstand my motive for speaking my voice at this late date. I know I can't affect the consensus decision, and I'm not trying to. I grew up in the south and there are many beautiful places in that part of the country. Believe me when I say its going to be HOT. And hot takes on more than one perspective, as I'll explain.

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To be sure, the weather will be a factor. Here is the long range forecast for Texas and Oklahoma.

Summer temperatures will be near or a bit hotter than normal. Rainfall will be above normal in Oklahoma, but most of Texas will have much-below-normal rainfall, with a severe drought continuing in The Valley and Hill Country. The hottest temperatures will be in mid- and late June, early and late July, and early August.

And this the long range forecast for the deep south, which includes Arkansas.

Summer temperatures and rainfall will be near normal, on average. The hottest periods will be in mid- and late July and early and mid-August.

At first blush it would seem that Texas should be pulled from consideration, unless the Davis mountains in far West Texas is under consideration. The deep south is going to be miserable for a whole lot of people

Let's not overlook the other hot situation. In 1988 the state of Texas fought a vigorous campaign against the Rainbow Family. Southern hospitality is not everything that it's cracked up to be. And they don't like strangers. Who really does, but the difference is in the attitude, and you can expect to see a lot of attitude from those LEO's.

Wherever we gather this summer, I will be there. It is, after all, what I do. I've been to some really great gatherings, and I've been to some that needed a makeover. 2007 already sounds like one to forget.

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