Rumblestrip took a short tour to Baltimore-Philadelphia-Chapel Hill (Carrboro)-Richmond, last week. It was a blast, in the white van with girls, Finn, Glen, Nat and myself.
I went down to NJ a few days early to visit Mom and see how she’s doing, since I’m the closest of the four kids, just 300 miles away. She’s only a little bit better, and is thankfully unaware of so much. If she knew how she was doing, she wouldn’t be happy about it. Three years since she came to NH to have Thanksgiving with us. Those days are gone. I can’t help but think about my own aging and how it will end up. I won’t go to one of those community places. Nat says we’ll have a commune. I like that idea.
The Wednesday dance in Baltimore was a great hall, in an old church from way back. It was a Wednesday crowd. Not a late night group. But a good warmup for the rest of the tour. Emily, our host, had a house filled with the things that three boys under 7 might need. Made me feel welcome. Maybe I’m not so chaotic after all? Daedelus books has a storefront just down the street. Yes.
Thursday night at Glenside, the Philly dance, was another fine hall. With footlights, but we couldn’t use them. Realized I could stick the foot mic into my Keen sandals. It’s perfect for sound insulation from the floor, and the right height. No smell.
Friday. Carrboro, the Paris of the Piedmont, was the kickin dance that we had heard. A whooping crowd that sent us into a playing heaven; they respond, we respond. Thank god it was good, since I booked the dance not thinking of the long 9 hour drive from Philly. We were zonked after all that time sitting. But revived quickly.
Saturday. Glen turned 30. Here he is getting ready to do some cake shopping in Alberta VA. Later, we saw bears at Maymont Park in Richmond, Virginia. The only present I had for Glen. Definitely worth stopping at again. Next time, with takeout dinner from that Vietnamese restaurant we went to later in Richmond. Really, really great food. I forget the street name. Big street. Going west. Glen was feeling sick — we never did get that cake.
The Dance: The Lewis Ginter Recreation Center is former elementary school building, from the early 1900’s. Big wide stairs on either side of the foyer. Love those buildings. This is where we’ll be heading back to when we play for the Springforth Ball in April. Herschel did sound, the hall was pretty live, and it sounded great. The crowd was happy, if a little quiet. Can’t forget our Friday night in Carrboro. Mic in the sandal, everything went well, we played great.
Sunday: After a peaceful night at Herschel and Deborah Nelson’s house, we headed out for Annapolis to leave Nat and Finn at the boat, for their father/son trip to the Bahamas. Not exactly warm weather for sailing, but warmer than Maine, where the boat spends the rest of the year. It’s good not to be going anywhere to play today.
Piper and Zoe made a fairy house. They can be peaceful sometimes.
Went to Mom’s Monday. She’s a little better. Not motivated. She recognizes me, and the girls, but tends to check out after a while. In the morning, the long drive back to NH. Girls terrible, fighting, tired, rude. I can’t wait to get away from them. Ice and cold greets us. Of course, no fire in the wood stove. The house is freezing, and a mess, and I want to just go to sleep and have the maid clean it. That would be me. In a few days I will be fine.