…I find it difficult and selfishly unwise to drive and type at the same time. That, along with the distances between gigs, time taken up before and after the gigs dealing with equipment, and the allotted five hours of hotel time to sleep and bathe didn’t leave much time for journaling.

I was texting with Anthony Rankin about the sad news and mentioned that a bit of good news also happened at the same time. A cat had decided to join our party and Peters and I agreed that the cat needed a name so we decided on Taylor Hawkins Clarion in honor of the situation. Anthony replied with “you mean Taylor CLAWkins”. That was settled The cat’s name is Taylor Clawkins.

“As I breathe deeply I forget that I quit playing music as a career about eight or nine times in the last set alone; and now I want to sit here watching the moon rise and dream up songs to sing in the glory of this unique place on this planet.”

It snowed. Got up extra early for the trip after going to bed extra late. A lovely sight to wake up to unless you are an early bloom in the orchard. Now you are deceased and wilted. Pretty, still, but you are fragrant no more.

As I walked up to sing some harmonies at this point I felt something that made my body revolt. I started to choke a little. It felt like a fly had flown into my mouth. However, I couldn’t feel anything in my mouth. I stopped singing and tried to find whatever it was with my hand thinking maybe it was on my lips. Fun fact, No! I didn’t find a fly or a gnat or a bug. I felt what it was as I was on the verge of gagging and I couldn’t really process what happened or how it happened.

Conversation isn’t always on the menu while traveling with a band. Everyone is lost in their own world. All are busy bringing weekly home life to a close and getting mentally prepared for the work weekend. The silence of thought may get a brief respite with a “Hey, did y’all happen to notice..?” type question, but silence returns quickly and you stare out of the window and return to your dreams of spending money you don’t have on things you don’t really need.

Nothing much to tell so far. Last night’s gig was a typical college bar gig. Lots of people with lots of young energy doing college age stuff. A part of me misses having that drive and energy. Another part of me wishes they would just go home and stop taking selfies every thirty seconds. This will be one well documented generation.