DAY FIFTEEN: February 3, 2008 Kimball, NE

It’s 8:00A.M., and we found a Starbucks! Familiar surroundings. Ahhhh. Good strong Northwest coffee. More choices on sugar packet colors than pink and white, too. I’ll never take things like raw sugar for granted again. I’m sitting right under the speaker playing loud, peppy music. Cushy chair, though. We’re still in North Platte, a town big enough to have these luxuries. We’re heading on our way to Kimball, NE after being properly caffeinated. To us Portlanders, Starbucks is no big deal, but here; it’s a Godsend! Frank is peacefully reading the North Platte Telegraph uninterrupted by me.

For those of you who are reading this every day, thank you for all your responses! They mean so much to both of us. Allie commented that I’m writing a lot! No writer’s block here. It helps keep me centered and objective about this crazy schedule we’re keeping.

Some people have suggested that there’s a book here. (Maybe that’s a nice way of telling me that I’m going on and on…) For 25 years now I’ve wanted to write a book about my adventures in the profession I have chosen. I have lots of stories that span back 30+ years, but I don’t like to force them on people at dinner parties. If there’s a book, people can just read some, then put it down and go to sleep. What ‘cha think?

I’m thinking that fellow musicians and students could glean something out of this, too. I’m a businesswoman. Frank and I had to figure this music scene out on our own. It’s nice being married to a man who dedicates himself to the nuts and bolts of our business, as well as finding new markets for my music. Many times I’ll come up with artistic concepts for new projects, and Frank will do everything else to free me up so that I can be creative.
Maybe this proposed book could be a Business of Music textbook of sorts, sweetened with enough zany stories for the general public to enjoy.
When we get home I think I’ll keep writing, or I’ll go crazy from the let down. I’ll include flashbacks and tell the whole story, weaving in enough facts for music students to take note.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday. People have to choose between watching big guys bashing into each other, or some lady playing the piano. I confess I don’t know much about the game, but I like watching those guys butts in those shiny, colorful tight pants! I wish I could see their faces better, though.
I’ll have to doubly thank anyone who shows up tonight!

We played a really fun concert in this town of only 2,500. The piano was an old-timer, and one of those that required lots of magic marker. They’re getting a brand new one, but not yet. So, after thanking those that showed up tonight on Super Bowl Sunday, I said we’d give a glorious send-off to this old piano.

A woman came into my dressing room before the show with a gift for me. It was a beaded bookmark she hand made. She was so sweet, and so enthusiastic! She cheered throughout the whole show. I carried it on stage with me and placed it inside the piano. During the first piece, I realized that was what I needed to get me through all these concerts. My good luck charm! My pink Feather! I was flying!
The crowd was smaller than usual, but they were so into it!

Tomorrow is our longest drive of the trip. Delta, Colorado is 426 miles from here. No concert tomorrow, but many hours of driving in snow and ice in the Colorado mountains.
We’re leaving at the crack of dawn. I’d better turn in. Sweet dreams….