DAY THIRTY-FIVE: February 23, 2008 Melrose, Minnesota

Wow! Some of this blog was published in two Kansas Newspapers, and used for website material as well. Cool!
http://www.bladeempire.com/web/isite.dll?1203102598234~concert

We’re having the most glorious early morning Wisconsin drive! As we pulled away from our Super 8, it was –9. The colors are extra special in this early morning light. Trees are glistening as the sun hits them sideways like twinkling Xmas lights. Forests softened by the horizon almost have a lavender cast. Birch trees gracefully adorn the sides of the road as their white trunks contrast against the dark green fir trees. There is almost no traffic. We keep passing through these tiny towns which welcome you with their little green population signs: numbers like pop 93, pop105, and a bigger one of 3000 with a McDonalds.
We’re in a major recreation area, with world famous cross-country ski competitions. I can see why. The only thing we’re missing here that we see everywhere in Oregon is big resort lodges. It seems that the atmosphere here is less fancy, with adventurers staying in motels or with friends. Am I way off the mark? Please let me know out there! Maybe this area is Wisconsin’s best- kept secret and they want to keep it that way.

The cows are even different here. They stand perfectly in a row in the field, evenly spaced, and facing the same direction. Is that why Wisconsin cheese is so famous? Disciplined, orderly cows produce the best milk.

Frank and I have differing distractions: while I am always curiously pulled by museum signs, Frank wants to stop at pawn shops and music stores. We try to keep each other from noticing things like that. One thing that I’ve learned to tolerate is Frank’s occasional “view” stops. We just had one, after crossing the river into Minnesota. I also stepped out in the fresh air, to enjoy this scenic rest area right over the frozen river. Frank proudly talked of certain things that girls just can’t do. Looking down into the snow, I found that special FMG monogram in a large, bold font. Frank had initialed his approval of the view this time, of the beautiful St. Croix River! I can hear our guy readers now, going,
”Yo, Frank!”

Tonight’s concert was a super high for Frank and me. We felt like we played the best we have all tour. Things even went wrong; it didn’t matter. It wasn’t our biggest crowd; it didn’t matter. CD sales were less than average; it didn’t matter. We just had the time of our lives. The piano felt like home. It was a Yamaha. I know how to drive one of those and get just the tones I want with my eyes closed. I was flying tonight, and so was Frank.

Other things went wrong, too: During my first piece my right hand thumbnail broke. There was a big flap catching on the sides of the keys. I almost stopped the program for fear of further injury, bleeding, and possible cancellations. Instead, I held my breath the entire first half, and luckily I was able to fix it on the break! Phew! (My form was not all that great, but it didn’t matter.)
Then during the first piece on the second half, my left earring flew off! I discreetly picked it up off the floor during the applause, thinking no one really saw what happened. Well, I should have made a joke about it, because everyone commented on it later!
If that wasn’t enough, during “Green Sleeves” my left sleeve got caught on my right bracelet during a crossover! I forced it, broke some threads, and went on.

None of it mattered. All I could think of was how the music transcended everything. For the first time in a while, instead of thinking of how many concerts we still had to do, I thought how LUCKY we are to be doing this at all. Each remaining concert now has the same important status as gourmet chocolates in a box. We are down to eleven now. We must savor them. If this is starting to sound like Forrest Gump, so be it. Yes, this tour HAS been like a box of chocolates! We’ve been walking into a venues never knowing what we were gonna get: some are nutty, some rich($), some fruity, some fancy, some plain. It’s all been amazing.

Tomorrow we drive, and then have a Matinee at 2:00. Better turn in. Although Frank works his butt off, he told me that all this to him is like a big vacation. He continues to amaze me. For me, it’s just a very important time, which I take very seriously. There’s a lot of joy in that. It’s fun to work hard!