when dreams come true
I had one of the best weekends of my life. Here is why...
Type your cut contents here.
Friday evening Obi and I put the dogs in the backseat, climbed into the car and headed for Tallahassee. We passed the time in the car with Ender's Game. He read aloud while I drove. I love his voice, it's soft and soothing. Except, of course, when he's reading the part of Graff.
We arrive at my parents' house, park the car, let the dogs out, and set off through the woods to the neighbor's studio for a rehearsal. You see, the purpose of the visit is my dad's big show. Since the release of his CD last November he's been planning a show to include all 30+ musicians who contributed their talent to the album. We enter a room full of friends and neighbors, most of whom were also musicians. We eat pizza and drink beer and run through each song. It was somewhat chaotic with Kathy trying to keep everyone on task and my dad talking loudly to no one specific, trying to explain the new key changes he'd thrown in to accommodate the various horn solos to be played the following night. I got up to sing when I was needed, and spent the rest of the time observing the sea of familiar faces before me.
When we'd run through all the songs, Obi and I joined my mother for the walk back through the woods toward home. There we snacked on roasted chicken, arugula pesto, guacamole, millet and flax garlic chips and some sort of black eyed pea salad. YUM. We moved out to the porch. It was a beautiful night. The air was cool and sweetened by all the flowers in bloom; dogwood, azalea, tea olive. The three of us sat on the porch and talked for a while, watching the dogs enjoy the evening in the woods.
Sleep came quickly and we awoke leisurely the next morning. Obi and I stayed in bed dozing, snuggling and smooching for a quite some time, it was divine. Eventually we ventured into the kitchen where Obi whipped up an amazing breakfast of organic pork sausage cooked with onions and mushrooms then topped with cheese and rolled inside eggs. YUM! We helped my dad load equipment and followed him into town to assist with set up. When we were released from our duties, we wandered through the shops at Lake Ella. We snacked on Barb's Homemade Brittle Ice Cream, a tasty frozen treat, and browsed aimlessly through the Quarter Moon Imports' selection of goodies. Obi got a ring and a pretty glass candle holder. I got a button that says "Life is Short - Dance Often".
We ventured back home for a while to relax before the show. At 6:30 we head back into town, it's almost show time.
People begin to arrive, one by one, the place fills up. We start the show only 10 minutes late. The people keep coming.
The first set was the softer bluegrassy stuff featuring the accordion, fiddle, and mandolin played by Carrie Hamby and the Mayhaws. My dad joined them on his upright bass a few songs in.
I joined in for 'Old Fashion Way', a song my dad wrote in 1984 when I was a baby and my mom was pregnant with my sister. It has always been one of my favorites and it was deeply meaningful to sing it with my dad, especially on this night.
Well you can't write lonely songs if you ain't lonely
and songs 'bout being broke are getting old
like my old car and this guitar we're getting by somehow
and living day to day is getting easier
cause I've got you and a pretty little baby
and one more coming due 'bout any day
just living on the land and growing veggies
and making love that good old fashion way
The second set consisted of most of the material from the album and included the Tallahassee Swing Band backing up the rock n' roll band. I don't yet have a picture of the full stage with everyone, but I will post it as soon as I do. It was IMPRESSIVE! There will also be some video clips at some point which I will share as well.
I was on stage singing for most of the second set. I was lost in the music when I looked around and realized how long I'd known most of the people on the stage . To my right was Kathy, my parents' neighbor since they moved to Woodville 26 years ago. Behind her on guitar was her husband, TD. My dad has been playing music with these two several days a week for years. Their daughter used to babysit me, I used to babysit their son. To my immediate left was Deborah, another long time musical friend of my dad and mother of a childhood friend of mine. There was Jimi McKenzie, also on guitar, my dad's best friend. Behind me, Steve the drummer, who's kids I used to play with during gigs. There were many others. Looking into the audience I saw my mother, dancing her heart out. Both of my grandmothers working the door, selling tickets and CDs (people were still arriving). My brother was off to the side grinning. Crystal, my best friend of over 20 years and her parents were sitting in my direct sight line, my wonderful Obi was smiling at me from his seat next to Crystal. The only person missing was my sister, who living in Boston now, was unable to make it. The night was full of people from my past, all thrilled to be there. Then there was my father, happier than I have ever seen him before. His dream was coming true. The stage and audience both full of dear friends and family, making and dancing to HIS music. My throat is tightening as I write this, remembering how awesome it felt to be a part of that.
(from left to right: Jimi McKenzie, Jim Crozier, TD Giddings, Kathy Giddings, and Me. There were several more people to the left who didn't make it into this shot. And with a different angle you'd see the Big Band on the stage behind us.)
The second set ended to thunderous applause. The rock n' roll band joined the crowd to mingle and the Tallahassee Swing Band remained behind to play a set of their own. The dancing continued.
Set four consisted of the rock n' roll band, now playing as The Jones Brothers. No one in the band is named Jones. If you ask my dad why they chose this name he'll reply "we just want it real bad".
Out on the smoker's porch, the accordion player (now playing guitar) and the fiddle player decided to jam. Obi, Crystal and I stood outside for a while talking and listening to them play.
The night ended around 11:30. Obi and I drove back to Woodville, crawled into bed and were promptly asleep. The next morning yielded another breakfast by Obi, baths for Ubo and Abeni, and another Ender filled three hours in the car back to Gainesville.
It was an amazingly sweet time, not just because of my dad's show but because I got to share it with Obi. I felt at such peace this weekend, constantly relaxed. Some of this could be contributed to the lovely brownies we had with us, but not all. It was a really special time for me with good reconnection with friends and family and good connection with Obi. All this punctuated by a landscape of endless beauty and the undying affection of our furry companions.
Life is Good.
Type your cut contents here.
Friday evening Obi and I put the dogs in the backseat, climbed into the car and headed for Tallahassee. We passed the time in the car with Ender's Game. He read aloud while I drove. I love his voice, it's soft and soothing. Except, of course, when he's reading the part of Graff.
We arrive at my parents' house, park the car, let the dogs out, and set off through the woods to the neighbor's studio for a rehearsal. You see, the purpose of the visit is my dad's big show. Since the release of his CD last November he's been planning a show to include all 30+ musicians who contributed their talent to the album. We enter a room full of friends and neighbors, most of whom were also musicians. We eat pizza and drink beer and run through each song. It was somewhat chaotic with Kathy trying to keep everyone on task and my dad talking loudly to no one specific, trying to explain the new key changes he'd thrown in to accommodate the various horn solos to be played the following night. I got up to sing when I was needed, and spent the rest of the time observing the sea of familiar faces before me.
When we'd run through all the songs, Obi and I joined my mother for the walk back through the woods toward home. There we snacked on roasted chicken, arugula pesto, guacamole, millet and flax garlic chips and some sort of black eyed pea salad. YUM. We moved out to the porch. It was a beautiful night. The air was cool and sweetened by all the flowers in bloom; dogwood, azalea, tea olive. The three of us sat on the porch and talked for a while, watching the dogs enjoy the evening in the woods.
Sleep came quickly and we awoke leisurely the next morning. Obi and I stayed in bed dozing, snuggling and smooching for a quite some time, it was divine. Eventually we ventured into the kitchen where Obi whipped up an amazing breakfast of organic pork sausage cooked with onions and mushrooms then topped with cheese and rolled inside eggs. YUM! We helped my dad load equipment and followed him into town to assist with set up. When we were released from our duties, we wandered through the shops at Lake Ella. We snacked on Barb's Homemade Brittle Ice Cream, a tasty frozen treat, and browsed aimlessly through the Quarter Moon Imports' selection of goodies. Obi got a ring and a pretty glass candle holder. I got a button that says "Life is Short - Dance Often".
We ventured back home for a while to relax before the show. At 6:30 we head back into town, it's almost show time.
People begin to arrive, one by one, the place fills up. We start the show only 10 minutes late. The people keep coming.
The first set was the softer bluegrassy stuff featuring the accordion, fiddle, and mandolin played by Carrie Hamby and the Mayhaws. My dad joined them on his upright bass a few songs in.
I joined in for 'Old Fashion Way', a song my dad wrote in 1984 when I was a baby and my mom was pregnant with my sister. It has always been one of my favorites and it was deeply meaningful to sing it with my dad, especially on this night.
Well you can't write lonely songs if you ain't lonely
and songs 'bout being broke are getting old
like my old car and this guitar we're getting by somehow
and living day to day is getting easier
cause I've got you and a pretty little baby
and one more coming due 'bout any day
just living on the land and growing veggies
and making love that good old fashion way
The second set consisted of most of the material from the album and included the Tallahassee Swing Band backing up the rock n' roll band. I don't yet have a picture of the full stage with everyone, but I will post it as soon as I do. It was IMPRESSIVE! There will also be some video clips at some point which I will share as well.
I was on stage singing for most of the second set. I was lost in the music when I looked around and realized how long I'd known most of the people on the stage . To my right was Kathy, my parents' neighbor since they moved to Woodville 26 years ago. Behind her on guitar was her husband, TD. My dad has been playing music with these two several days a week for years. Their daughter used to babysit me, I used to babysit their son. To my immediate left was Deborah, another long time musical friend of my dad and mother of a childhood friend of mine. There was Jimi McKenzie, also on guitar, my dad's best friend. Behind me, Steve the drummer, who's kids I used to play with during gigs. There were many others. Looking into the audience I saw my mother, dancing her heart out. Both of my grandmothers working the door, selling tickets and CDs (people were still arriving). My brother was off to the side grinning. Crystal, my best friend of over 20 years and her parents were sitting in my direct sight line, my wonderful Obi was smiling at me from his seat next to Crystal. The only person missing was my sister, who living in Boston now, was unable to make it. The night was full of people from my past, all thrilled to be there. Then there was my father, happier than I have ever seen him before. His dream was coming true. The stage and audience both full of dear friends and family, making and dancing to HIS music. My throat is tightening as I write this, remembering how awesome it felt to be a part of that.
(from left to right: Jimi McKenzie, Jim Crozier, TD Giddings, Kathy Giddings, and Me. There were several more people to the left who didn't make it into this shot. And with a different angle you'd see the Big Band on the stage behind us.)
The second set ended to thunderous applause. The rock n' roll band joined the crowd to mingle and the Tallahassee Swing Band remained behind to play a set of their own. The dancing continued.
Set four consisted of the rock n' roll band, now playing as The Jones Brothers. No one in the band is named Jones. If you ask my dad why they chose this name he'll reply "we just want it real bad".
Out on the smoker's porch, the accordion player (now playing guitar) and the fiddle player decided to jam. Obi, Crystal and I stood outside for a while talking and listening to them play.
The night ended around 11:30. Obi and I drove back to Woodville, crawled into bed and were promptly asleep. The next morning yielded another breakfast by Obi, baths for Ubo and Abeni, and another Ender filled three hours in the car back to Gainesville.
It was an amazingly sweet time, not just because of my dad's show but because I got to share it with Obi. I felt at such peace this weekend, constantly relaxed. Some of this could be contributed to the lovely brownies we had with us, but not all. It was a really special time for me with good reconnection with friends and family and good connection with Obi. All this punctuated by a landscape of endless beauty and the undying affection of our furry companions.
Life is Good.