It's a really amazing world we live in.
I'm peering out the window of an Amtrak train at a fiery evening sun approaching the horizon. The rolling mountains of northern
California are passing me by, bathed in their hazy golden light of sunset, as I finish dining on a vegan garden burger.
Most of today I took a break from working, deciding instead to journal, read, and write a postcard.
It feels good to give myself these breaks, when usually I load myself up with tasks that "need" to be accomplished.
It's important to remember to give ourselves these precious moments of downtime.
At the same time, it's neat that I can be productive just about anywhere. For instance, my songwriter friend Tim just called from Boston to talk about booking a show in October. Five minutes later, I had my laptop fired up to go over the details. Give me my laptop and cell phone baby… and I can even book shows aboard an Amtrak train rolling through remote farmland! My aunt marveled the other day how I'm a real 21st century kinda guy, working and living a mobile lifestyle, and it's moments like these I smile knowingly to myself about how right she is.
The neat thing about traveling by train, is that you pass through so many landscapes in such an intimate way. Planes are too high up, and highways are shielded from the communities they pass through. But trains… trains pass right through life, up close and personal. We've sliced through farms where the workers were tending to the rows of green bounty, we've skirted the edges of beaches where families were camping and surfers were surfing, we've rolled through towns where people were running their errands and taking a smoke breaks from work. Every hour it's a new terrain. Desert, mountain, beach, city, valley, farm, suburb, metropolis. Amazing.
The west coast leg of this tour has started out strong. I had an amazing turnout at my CD Release Show in LA last weekend. I was just so moved to have so many supportive folks out there. It felt like a coming out party. My film cohorts and cousins and brother have never seen this side of me. So it felt really nice to get up there, deliver a bangup show, and say "hey, I make music now!" Highlight 1: I pulled out a silly song from 6 years ago that Meredith likes, and it turned into a big singalong with the whole room joining in! Highlight 2: I had the extreme pleasure of being accompanied by the rockin' organic drum beats of my friend Tommy. He banged on the cajon, bongos, dumbek, and gourds… and it was so much fun to add that energy to the show.
So in an hour I'll roll into San Francisco. Another week, another city, another bed. I find myself adapting well to this lifestyle. My goal is to be completely present in each city, enjoying what experiences it brings, savoring its unique people and restaurants, and then letting go when it's time to leave. The letting go is hard sometimes, like saying goodbye to my best friend last night. But as I feel that little lump in my throat, I also crack a smile knowing that this week will bring new adventures, new friends, and new musical joys.
Peace, love, and music…
Ry