Back on that horse!
Have you ever been thrown from a horse? I haven’t (I rode a mechanical bull once…once), and the horses from which I have been thrown have all been metaphorical in nature. ‘They’ say just get back on that horse and keep riding. What’s funny is that sometimes the imagined horses are much more dangerous than the real ones, yet, there are days we would rather climb on a 1000-pound unruly beast than face what’s ahead. Even if being tossed means a change in life. Funny how that works.
My favorite band is The Police. They were slated to get together and work on new music after the Synchronicity tour, with the sessions derailed by Stewart Copeland being thrown from a horse and breaking a collarbone. The results were just a ‘new’ version of ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me (’86)’, and that was the end of that. Sting went on to be Sting even more, Andy Summers finished counting his Police money just in time to add more in ’07 during the reunion tour (oh, and he continues to follow his passions of guitar and photography), and Stewart has gone on to push his percussive envelope and make new music. He was thrown from his horse (literally and figuratively), and pressed on.
This week we were in a couple of great places for history: Lynchburg and Leesburg, VA (as well as Derry, NH, and Verona, NY). One place that stood out to me was Leesburg. The Historic district is not very big, however, the houses are amazing, as are the pockets of history in this little town that was a big part of the Civil War.
One house in particular is interesting. The Harrison House (now Glenfiddich) was host to General Lee after he was – wait for it – thrown from his horse Traveler. He met with a surgeon there, as well as his son (a private in the army), and his most trusted Generals. (Oh, and some 55,000 troops marched into town with him). General Lee had no idea that the battle for which they planned would be the bloodiest in American history. The Battle of Antietam was to follow, which was called a ‘strategic victory’ by the US, since the Confederates left the battlefield first, which allowed Lincoln to make his Emancipation Proclamation law, which then kept England from recognizing the South as a legit government. It’s crazy where life will go, right?
So I sat on the sidewalk in front of this beautiful home and just pondered life for a moment. Think about how crazy life was during the war, and the decisions made in this home changed lives forever, yet, there was a moment of solace in the middle of all this. General Lee met with his son. There’s a war on, and you know what’s important? Family. You know what is important in the middle of all your issues, horse-throwing, maybe even a war? That’s right. Family.
I won’t lie – being away from my family while on the road stinks. It pales in comparison to the soldiers who are away for many months at a time, so I don’t complain. I also like showing pictures of my babies and updating our friends on the boys’ progress. I can imagine how the foot soldiers during the Civil War felt having to go a state or two over and fight, waiting to hear any word from home. This morning my 4-year old asked ‘Hey Daddy, can we FaceTime real quick?’ Oh, how far we have come.
OK, so tour updates. I get sidetracked easily. Day 1 – Lynchburg. Great brunch with my oldest brother (hey look- family!), which was even better since it was National Siblings Day. I went for a long bike ride down the river trail, and after our show I was treated to a tour of the home on the 4thfloor of the historic building where we performed. Again, these moments on tour are special because at times doors spent that normally don’t get to open. So I closed the evening on the roof overlooking the James River. Not bad at all.
The next day we woke up in Leesburg, VA, and I was able to take in more bike time around the historic district. I will say this: If someone works for the History channel, can you please tell them that their HISTORY HERE app has been down for weeks and I can’t get my learn on! Leesburg would have been a fantastic place to use said app, but, alas…
Then we ventured up to New Hampshire, where I started my day with a pedicure. Yes, a pedicure. I love watching the women’s faces when I saunter in because it’s like I have discovered their secret hiding place. I know they are thinking ‘We are here to get away from men! SHOO’. Nobody was hurt, so it’s OK.
The room we played in Derby was the Tupelo Music Hall, a great little place that takes great care of the artists with terrific hospitality and clean dressing rooms. One would think that happens everywhere, but alas…
Then we headed yet another direction and wound up in Verona, NY at the Turning Stone Casino. You know, casinos. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I used to play Blackjack, and I am pretty good. I used to like the vibe in some of them, but now, most of them are well, casinos. They all sort of smell the same, the food is subpar, and the walk from my room to the venue is just short of a 5k. (Wanna hear a musician complain then give him a gig!). I was actually happy to find that the weather was a wonderful 65 degrees and that Turning Stone had a walking path that circled the property. So addition to the 5k walk to the venue, I added a little more than my 10,000 steps that day. It’s the little things that keep us happy out here. Bikes, trails, bike trails, etc.
That being said, we had a great show in a great room, and we trucked the 1000 miles home in record time. For that I am thankful.
Hopefully you have a great holiday weekend and get in that family time. And remember: this is the last of the ‘candy’ holidays until Halloween, so we can all get our blood sugar in check again. Hug those babies and be nice to each other.
See you on the road!
