I opted to not attend the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2019. Ironically, I missed 2009 too but for different reasons.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiPxOl1r2VjftZm4DierFF1sMcrh8vU4cy8U0vjbJJWbhgPBlQo4VwcxfL3jBxR1npLJSCrqCPQo3DntnJWuPDygx7QohDKBde4mNed6Y9Pjr4Q4VxZcUikDtVHrH1PcyhPX9Ts3T9M_n/s640/Bonnaroo+Chris+totem+by+Ron+2019.jpg) |
Ron with Bonnaroo Chris totem in 2019
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A huge shout out to my friend, Ron. Ron has been to the festival several times and when he found out I wasn't going to make it, he created a totem of me that he carried around the entire time. I kept getting photos and video of people with the totem and it made my day every time.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR84z-G5XDM7tkwW7qp9959Sazv0Ypc8BsYjSe0rRNhW_Oc7d2w1_NTRIQbswI_-QYf0Mm4gHTjHFa9QDG-xj_DauBds3n646fj35avE_u2aLFLA8AKTUO7bCbRLP5Pb7vuLKgpd719avk/s640/Bonnaroo+Chris+totem+at+TWLOHA+2019.jpg) |
Bonnaroo Chris totem at the TWLOHA booth 2019 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNSVJRXH2AF0d-IKvYFN6IGVc2A8spayoekSrp1dfvFabJqkb6Lzk1g-gBYXHKyJafVbsSZepa0HPrYs6ADnvU8S9VSnX_ILa3JMprUyOlMtTC3NIMlXwDvKmpS1-TdsyFELT-0wv0Uv6/s640/Bonnaroo+Chris+totem+with+girl+2019.jpg) |
Bonnaroo Chris totem with a Roovian 2019 |
There were several factors in my decision but the biggest was that I started volunteering for a charity called
ONETrack International that works to provide long term support to orphans around the world.
In August of 2019, I had the honor to deploy with the charity's volunteer team to Africa. We orchestrated a site visit at an orphanage in Zimbabwe where I captured everything via photos and video.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVLnXQbI3GlD0jcQJPJENoRr_7Wm7X5RjNwMV1MdJ52QITw40jdk_1rOBoEV973wIn761R7o56dGLTDxq_dYuhRYDBkduHPpwiaI93lgI_GtdNT1KxKfpbWl8DDzcLtSYddMzMwHiU2_Y/s640/20190819_144432.jpg) |
Chris in Africa with ONETrack International |
After completing the work, the team took a backpacking trip through Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia. It was an extraordinary trip to a part of the world I might not otherwise see. The sights included Victoria Falls, a safari in the Chobe National Park and a ferry that crosses the only international intersection of four countries in the world: Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Please check out
www.onetrackinternational.org and support the cause if you think it's important.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzFxYR40TXHOsBV2HRmf5XLvMpFeil533fLHTht-ZZ8erPJMMl0MvrwEcMnS67xX8aPFv-u9sIibYwcUG3JHJOzOrDAvYGHbpalz1JCr2az857U7e8EOQ0dAqjLKXhkQKrU0rJW3RnXzF/s640/DSC_0689.JPG) |
ONETrack International in Zimbabwe 2019 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2tD03iJNjo9Fq9y8RdVEmRkHFvuxH-8xcrpZhVMcNdIQZ04Xed5cVOqabLwmkH59TT-_TpV1mEQvxXet0OW_CIgwauOn_kiZarHRcI7MR4jlQMTOX1aRjP93tIt47P5HdfdVHje7Ml-i/s640/Photo+Aug+19%252C+07+41+32+cc.jpg) |
Chris Alexander taking photos for OTI in 2019 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CgI9cQiRPxSEhF5VYzG_V_V9weUO9U5EjwChW-3EA5OyDuJKP_lfPGTabasXJG9S-jfn9iE1EMIVDWVeu7trYIOtUsCY6rh0CwbKiIWaJ4ydxZ4Nj01uftg6jXsW3diULgfZR3WINnF7/s640/Photo+Aug+22%252C+08+16+34+cc.jpg) |
Chris at Victoria Falls 2019 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdL3Z-kT8hEvGOVWwiEwNXqk-6qoWoVuCwWSD2479ywBvXdk9vo-AFjCOow6ClnycYK4KLF95y8vhfV21gTYk1s6oBFu8LWiMWJiFmhJBcNXY-yOQ4uCNMIws0VtQh6-X4lwqZRZKHmWLo/s640/DSC_0851cc.jpg) |
Elephant at Chobe National Park, Botswana 2019 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0hzqux_GSH4j_e7t_yHThHHSgc1wYFdg-wq_tVc9ZbICZ8WhjBz974N56bR9RxTu4u-PPIzLMnSbmyxy86ME49PVJO6e1ez716N3YS6Oa6q-yUkrZ4uJwbbxBqQmTRk4paVIOk-k_dLO/s640/20190823_172026.jpg) |
The team at the Kazungula Ferry crossing 2019 |
Volunteering is a big part of my life. I've gone to Bonnaroo four times now as a volunteer and that has made the festival an even better experience for me. If you have the time and energy, I highly recommend finding one or more organizations whose missions speak to you and look into being a volunteer. It can be quite fulfilling to help your fellow humans.
I hope those of you who attended Bonnaroo 2019 had a great time and kept the positivity alive! I'm looking forward to returning to The Farm.
#bonnaroo #roolife #ron #volunteering #globalorphancrisis #charity #giveback