I remember being 3 years old and voluntarily and excitedly following the nurse into the operating room, with Barbie in tow, for security. I remember hoping on the bed, laying back and a minty flavored mask being placed over my nose and mouth. Barbie got one too. I remember being carried outside to the car, in my father's arms. The sunlight was painfully bright, but I couldn't see a single thing, due to the patches placed over my eyes. I'm not sure if my first memory was that corrective eye surgery, but it sure stands out.

I remember sitting next to Meme in the car, squeezing her doughy hand, on the way to Beavers Bend. It was one of the most comfortable places I could have been. My family was on our way to one of the numerous traditional trips to the beautiful Oklahoma state park. I don't remember how old I was.

It was my 17th Halloween. I remember slamming on the breaks of the blue Taurus Meme willed to me after her death, three days after my 16th birthday, only to crash into the passenger side of the tiny car. I was going 55 miles an hour and pushed it all the way into a pole on the other side of the street. I remember the air bag inflating and my adrinaline pulsating through my body. My immediate concern was my 13 year old sister in the passenger seat. I got out, went around and pulled her out of the car so fast, it's the only part I don't really remember. We stood shaking, then sitting, as cars began to slow down and stop, then ask for my parent's phone number. The male driver from the other car emerged wearing a dress, high heels, and a blond wig. His absent passenger would have perished, I'm certain now.

I remember our family trip to Anchorage to visit my aunt and uncle. We went salmon fishing and I caught my first and only fish in life, thus far. My uncle was so proud, he gave me a kiss on the lips. I don't remember my age.

I have lots of memories. But the reality is, I've lost most of the ones I've made. It's the simple truth and unfortunate fact of being a human. And without audio, video, or film documentation, even more of them could have vanished. When I discovered writing and drawing, an entirely new creative form of preserving memories was at my fingertips. Even more confusing, though, is the idea that bad memories seem to stick around longer than the good ones.

I'm certain there are many memories from this tour that I will not have to write down or take pictures of in order for them to remain imprinted in one of my brain wrinkles (to take from a lyric in one of the songs from our gracious hosts' band French Films about Trains in Cologne, MN). However, as one may be able to tell, I'm not taking too many chances by posting these online thoughts, taking pictures and keeping my own little personal journal.

Minneapolis was awesome. I'm glad we visited and they played in September, because I don't like the cold, and the weather was perfect. Same for Cologne and Chicago. We've had beautiful fall weather and have been really really fortunate. The show was successful in Minneapolis, even though it transformed from practically an acoustic show to a straight up techno dance club within minutes. Our hosts were so so wonderful. They shared their food, cooking more than once, floor space, bicycles and wisdom. I got to see an old Okie friend and ride around on a bike for about 2 hours, along gardens and creeks and through greenways. I did yoga and picked up some tidbits for the book.

In Cologne, our hosts played music, loaned us their family canoe, gave us each our own beds, not to mention cooked the most amazingly delicious dinner of vegan chili and beer bread and breakfast of muffins and hot apple granola crisp before we made the long drive to Chicago. I went running along the farm roads lined with corn and marveled at the leaves changing to colors of yellows, reds and oranges that I forgot even existed.

Chicago has been so nice and familiar and relaxing. I'm staying with a friend from my Peace Corps days and it has been enjoyable to have freedom and alone time. I'll be making the drive back to Norman in a couple of days to renew our rental car and attend a good friend's wedding, before meeting the guys in Michigan to head onto Buffalo, NY. Detours in life just help to get us back on track, right?

La vida de la paloma

Language lessons,
Laughter without laughing creates guttural laughter, all the ways to tears

These boy by my side, drive me crazy at times, driving me across the country

We see tiny winged green fairies, acorn caps for hats, brown bucks staring back until we're staring at the white tail

Music lessons, lessons in life, lessons in love, lessons for learning

We rescue food, but in reality, it rescues us
Keeping us strong, carrying us on

Everywhere I glance, the blue bird perches on the posts
Taking my letters in its beak, delivering pages and delivering peace

A piece of my mind, with some peace of mind
Piece by piece, we connect the states

Midwest Quest...9/?-9/!

Sometimes I feel like I'm a 90 year old woman, other times I feel like 9 year old, carefree and craving constant attention. It's life. It's patience. It's practice. It's practicing patience. It's sharing thoughts and experiences and memories and ideas and hugs and kisses and sarcasm and toasts and successes and misfortunes. It's exercising your body and your rights. It's keeping in touch with people you love though letters and phone calls and this day in age, emails and online social networks and above all, keeping it all in perspective. It's doing what you love and making every day count, because, well, what else is there?

The sun showed its rays in Lincoln, NE. I felt it on my face and all the way to my bones. What a warm relief from spending the night in sub-zero temps, in Lawrence, KS. The weather wasn’t cold in Lawrence, but sadly, the artificial air in our kind hosts’ apartment made it feel like we were camping in the Himalayas. (With running water and electricity and fried chicken and soda pop).

The days are beginning to run together, which is not necessarily negative, by any means. And the northern leaves are changing into beautiful lovely patterns of paint by number pictures. The show in Kansas City was quaint and I reunited with my first Peace Corps friend since being on the road. It had been about 2 years since we last saw each other, which will be the case for most of the folks, and it was awesome to see her and catch up, even for just an evening. I know that’s something we’re all excited about-reconnecting with our friends that are sprinkled all around the country, like glitter that lands in your hair and only sparkles when you turn in a certain direction. After KC, we drove to Lincoln, NE and spent tour funds on a place to sleep for the first time since we left home. I wonder when the idea of staying in hotels became less preferable than crashing on a complete stranger’s couch, for me, or for anyone, but if you play your karmic cards right, you’ll meet some of the most amazing folks in the foreign town through which you’re passing. And many times, by the time you depart, you can’t wait to come back and visit your new friends and the newly familiar places.

We stayed two nights in Lincoln, where the boys played a house show, with more friendly folks. After Lincoln, we drove about 400 miles to Fargo, ND, which was just about the right amount of time to perfect our northern accents and joke about asking everyone where we could meet Steve Buscemi and Frances McDormand. We had a night off, after driving all day and Joey treated us to the movie, Contagion. All I can say about the movie, as someone who doesn’t follow new releases or box office sales, was that I’m guessing it didn’t go viral.

We stayed with the most gracious CouchSurfing hosts, on this tour, in Fargo. If it didn’t snow like 8 feet 8 months out of the year, it would be an awesome town in which to live. The girls we stayed with volunteered at a women’s bike collective and I got to ride a bicycle to the show!! Everyone in the town was so nice and the girls were incredibly generous, sharing their food, their sleeping space, and even coming to see the guys play. I personally enjoyed this set list the most, so far. The town also encourages not driving your car on Tuesdays, I saw picketing in action, did yoga under tall trees in the park, went on a run along a wooded bike path, spent time on the novel and now have freshly clean clothes. Cody was even able to fulfill his dream to watch Fargo, in Fargo. Endless thanks to our new family in Fargo. Come to OK, ladies, okay?!

The art is selling pretty well, too and helping us get by, tank by tank, along with the gracious tips from gracious folks we encounter at coffee shops, bakeries, house shows, music venues. We are so thankful to all of our friends, family and artists who contributed goods and beautiful works to help is get from one town to the next. The decorated light switch covers are a hit, as is the vegan soap that Cody's friend donated to us. Check out her website for those holiday gifts coming up:

http://gratefulhands.org/ I think 50% of proceeds may go to the tour right now, too.

We’re back on the road, on our way to Minnesota. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful rumors about Duluth and Minneapolis, and the folks putting on the show in Cologne couldn’t be more ecstatic about Luna Moth and Blue Valley Farmer gracing the town with their melodic magic.

Time traveling to Columbia, MO 9/23

I can hear the rain drops falling before they blur the ink on my note pad. Our travels have been skies of gray, with a brisk, yet refreshing chill in the air- a pleasant reminder that autumn has arrived. At the moment, this weather comforts me.

Springfield, IL was youthful, and led me to feel introverted. I borrowed the glockenspiel and placed bell-like sounds with words I planned to sing. I am pleased with the product and since more of the like will emerge on this journey. Tonight, at a house show in Columbia, MO, Hazle Lee Dove will perform her first song, opening for Luna Moth and Blue Valley Farmer.

Joey celebrated his birthday in Springfield, a couple of days ago, entering into the final year of his 20s... We're in the same boat now, floating down the same ravine, sharing a similar revere. He received a really unique birthday present that we all three got to experience. In addition to 4 orders of hasbrowns at the Waffle House, the we time traveled together. He turned 29 not once, but twice, as we drove from Louisville, KY after midnight, then crossed back into central time, arriving in Springfield, where got a second chance as a 28 year old, and mooned the country side for his final act.

It got really fun in St. Louis. We saw friends from Oklahoma and stayed with folks we hadn't just met that very day. I reunited with Alfie the robot, one of my favorite toys from my childhood. Leave it up to a musician to turn it into a theremin. It was like we were still time traveling, because in addition to Alfie and the 2nd birthday, gas cost $2.98/gallon. Also awesome? The St. Louis Bread Co that runs on suggested donations. A must visit for any weary traveler. And the City Museum downtown, where Cody and I peered at each other in a life sized-kalidescope, and ran on a giant hamster wheel. Oh, and we washed our clothes. Sort of. And I bought a tank top from a dude who is obsessed with the no-chocking symbol, putting it on everything from clothes to his own car. Good conversation starter at the very least.

Next stop, Ames, IA...

Pine Cone #1

Moody and Maud
Winter, not god
This time of year
Brings me no cheer

But you're so sweet
My soul's in heat
My saving grace
By which to face

This no good time of year.

Lousiville, KY 9/19

This is what happens when you leave your comfort zone:

You find yourself meeting strangers who remind you of past lovers.

Strangers find that you remind them of their 30-year old self, 30 years ago.

You drive to the wrong side of town, then, minutes later, you find yourself sitting, sipping tea that tastes like camp fire, where newspaper comics serve as doilies, across the street from the wrong side of town, where the bright blue neon lights of the White Castle reflect on your antique porcelain mug.

It's easy to forget to breath when you're sharing the same air.

Yesterday, we explored Bloomington, Indiana. I got spoiled by the wooded pathways on the University grounds. Collective housing, co-op grocer's, a pot luck house show at The Switchyard, and a-cappella singing sisters, set an excellent atmosphere for breathing. But meditating inside a Buddhist monastery and practicing sun-salutations beneath prayer flags strung from the leafy-green skies, was the ultimate breath of fresh air.

We made it to Louisville, after an unnecessarily long amount of time spent in the car. Apparently, a 2 hour jaunt turns into nearly 5 hours, when the city announces a bridge closer, due to cracks.. Less frustrating when you find out the reason for the extended car confinement.

Looking forward to the first day off, tomorrow. I have hopes of walking in woods, meditating and writing and exploring a little further outside the cramped quarters of the comfort zone.

Conway, AR Locust Pocus 9/15/11

The road was kind to us yesterday. We left Norman on its first rainy day of fall, with a tiny car packed to the brim with homemade quilts, comfort food, local art from friends, music in our hearts and driving in our minds.

Our journey was pleasant, on the way to Conway, and the house show hosts were benevolent, not to mention amazingly creative and talented musicians. For the first ti

me in a long while, I longed to package their songs in a tiny CD case and listen to them in the form of a CD, while we were on the road. To my disapointment, though, they didn't have them recorded. Which means, I'll be trying to recreate the song that hooked me in and lulled me to experience the emotions they may have felt when writing the lyrics, in my head, nonetheless.

Luna Moth and Blue Valley Farmer were incredibly well received!! Joey sold his entire discography, among other single CDs, as did Cody! We also sold some homemade soap, an Oklahoma chapter zine, and I sold a decorated light switch cover! Not bad for a first show. :)

Last night we drove to Memphis and stayed with my sister and

her boyfriend. Next stop is Nashville, TN...