November 7, 2019 - Tucson, Arizona Just finished a wonderful week of music and visiting old friends in the Lower 48 with Sarah. We began in Philadelphia with our annual stop at Andrea Clearfield’s Salon where we sang “Take a Stand (I Believe)”, a new song about the times we live in. Cliff Arms captured the version I linked to, feel free to share. We will be developing a studio version of this soon! From there we were off to Carbondale and Murphysboro, Illinois. There we did a two hour radio show on WDBX with Randy Auxier in Carbondale followed by a lovely House Concert as part of both Cousin Andy’s Coffeehouse and the American Institute of Philosophical and Cultural Thought in Murphysboro at Randy and Gaye’s house. It was a lovely evening followed by a song circle where we joined by Kerrville friend’s Candy and John, and Sabrina, and an old friend from Alaska, Dennis Porshard (now owner of the Arthur Agency) and his wife Ashley. I was also able to for the first time read my new poem “Constitution”. This last is a work of some length that has taken me years to write. This work reflects my thoughts and fears of where we have come to - our broken hopes for peace sacrificed on the altar of power - and how we might overcome it. I’m hoping to release this soon but would love to hear your feedback…
From there we slipped into Iowa where hints of the upcoming election lapped at the highway. We spent Halloween, my birthday, in Ottumwa Iowa, at the slightly dated but charming Hotel Ottumwa. I hoisted a beer in the Tom Tom Tap surrounded by Pirates and Cesars, Harly Quinn and Deadpool, all of them doing shots and busting out for the night. We played at the new Danish Table::Hygge Kitchen created by my great friend Mari Harries, who also owns our next night’s venue River City Eatery. Local resident Bill joined us with his fiddle at the Danish Table and the talks afterwords with Kyla (sp) and Mari were lovely. Both that and River City (joined by Andy, Mari’s husband, and at both sites by the insightful Henrik, their son) reminded me of how much I love playing music for folks. Being in the element. Feeling the songs course through me, through us, and out into the audience. It is always too long before I get back, but they make the trip worthwhile. If you find yourself in Elk Horn, Iowa or Windom, Minnesota stop in and say “hi” to Mari and her family. You won’t regret it.
The road journey continues. Interspersed with work for Reclaiming Futures (in Tucson now with them), my own consulting, visits with family and the ever-present State Senate responsibilities. In and out of Alaska, I’ll get this car home yet.