The Battle of Coachella

Things will fall apart.

In this sort of endeavor, there's no way for it to unfold with out adversity. We will be beaten, tired and dirty. We will get sick, have injuries and wonder why we came. No matter what sort of disaster befalls us, we will look back at this endeavor two ways.

First, we will think "man, I'm glad I'm not in the middle of that anymore." Yes, five days in the dessert, a 27-hour drive and meshing with thousands of other sweaty adventurers and music fans will make us miserable at times.

Then, we will undoubtedly think, "man, I'm glad I was in the middle of that for a while."

It may seem boring, safe or simple from a distance. However, traveling across country, camping in the southern California dessert for near a week and trudging through a massive music festival for three straight days challenges one in ways we can't anticipate.

But that's life. We're in our early twenties, we have led relatively comfortable lives and we have no excuse for passing up an adventure. As old men, what will be better? Looking back at an April weekend in college from which we worked on a term paper and sipped cappuccino with a girlfriend? Or the time we defied the limitations of space and school to catch Rage Against the Machine's first reunion show in seven years? The most politically poignant band of a generation has returned amid political turmoil, if there's any chance to see it we must take it.

We embark upon this adventure today, unsure of what's to come, but we will survive, we will have stories and we will never forget. This is the Battle of Coachella, a challenge to the everyday lives, the regular and the boring that most of our generation seems content to accept.

On Sunday when Rage hits the stage, we will know the power of what we've done, and the value of living a life outside of a comfortable apartment. Look for an occasional update during the trip, but don't count on anything.