Stepping Out (of Tour)

Veteran’s Day moved by in a blur; we have not had a Sunday en route concert in a while, so we were a little out of practice. Karen’s husband was visiting, so I had no walking partner, as everyone else has drifted away from the morning walk. Since there really wasn’t anyplace to walk other than a vacant parking lot, walking went by the wayside.

The drive to the lunch stop was shorter than the lunch stop. The buses pulled into a large parking lot surrounded by restaurants and retails stores galore; the kind of place that makes the Tour-tired look around and wonder if a nice hotel is nearby. I found what seemed like nearly half the Band in the already crowded Panera. Getting mine to go, I perched on a solitary chair long enough to eat half the sandwich, wrapping the other half for later, for the drive home.

The drive home…a few of us are stepping out of Tour for one night. Reading is a day trip for those of us living in Maryland, so a free evening at home was quite enticing. Max and Jay didn’t want to stop for dinner (or the bathroom), so I was hoarding my half sandwich against inevitable hunger.

My lunch filled a whopping twenty minutes, and I found myself with an hour and thirty minutes to kill. Nibbling on the apple that came with my lunch, I wandered the parking lot briefly to eye the lay of the land. The shoe store seemed like a plan; most everyone else was headed for Target or the grocery store. I diligently worked my way up and down each aisle, trying on whatever took my fancy. My mind seemed to be subconsciously directing me towards brown boots, of which there were very few. I meandered back out into the parking lot and headed next for the Ross Dress for Less. No one seemed to be going in that direction.

My tote bag is about to lose a handle with just a week to go, so I stepped into the handbag and accessory area. It was so unorganized it was a little like sensory overload. Looking for a tote bag would be too much effort. Right next to the accessory area I found the shoes, so back to the aisles. I found two pair of black patent leather flats, something I have been searching for throughout Tour, but the fit was poor, so I put them back. Now with my mind on flats, I came across a nice pair of brown flats that could be worn with skirts, and a comfy pair of black loafers (my Eccos need resoling, which will cost as much as the shoes did). I stood in the long lines for about five minutes before putting them back and leaving the store. Patience is in short supply at this point on Tour.

Next door was a Barnes and Noble, which I knew would have nice, clean bathrooms and over half the Band perusing the shelves. Making my way to the back of the store, I encountered at least twelve Band members. Before leaving I decided to treat myself to a cold drink (chia tea blended crème with whipped cream, mmm) and found another ten Band members sitting in the cafe. Leslye joined the line behind me, and upon hearing about the shoes, insisted we go back and get them after she made her purchase. We are very good at helping each other spend money.

Back to Ross we went, where Band members were now found. I picked up the shoes from the spot where I left them and went to the now empty line at the cash register. Two pairs of inexpensive shoes later I found myself back in the parking lot by the buses with ten minutes left of the lunch stop.

Warming up on stage, I decided I was going to enjoy playing in the hall – it had a very piccolo friendly feel to it, making it easier to play without forcing. People seemed to be moving around as if in a fog – en route concerts are draining. There is little or no warm up time in the hotel before departure, and having ended a concert less than twenty four hours before, the facial muscles tend to rebel a bit. I probably had more energy than most, knowing that I would be home by 8:00 that night.

The audience was another heart-warming crowd. After rousing applause, we sat down as the crowd settled in and the lights went down. After tuning, a hush settled over the hall, in anticipation of the first notes of the Opener. From the back of the hall, a tiny toddler voice came out of the darkness…quietly, “Yay!” The audience and Band both erupted in laughter. The Opener probably started a little later than usual.

By the time we were playing the patriotic portion of the program, the audience was waving miniature flags at every opportunity. If they could have kept us playing past God Bless America, they would have. Once the applause finally died down, I made my way to the dressing room for a quick change and escape from Tour. Jay doesn’t play the second half of the C program, so he was already waiting back stage, and I knew Max would be quick. We were on the road before the buses loaded and in Lancaster by 5:30.

John picked me up at Max’s after we dropped Jay in Greenbelt. When Chloe saw me through the glass door in the foyer, she was so excited she started pawing at the carpet as though she could dig her way underneath. Jamey was not far behind, ready with a big hug.

It is only for one night, but what a grand feeling to be in my own home after countless nights in hotel after hotel. I was up at 5:30 to see Jamey off to school; with the Tour Body Clock shift, I had stopped waking at 5:30 every day. Coming home is always a jolt to the Tour Body Clock. I’ll have a leisurely day at home before heading back to Tour. We’ll depart within our paranoid comfort zone and be back at the hotel before departure for the concert. We have Plan A, Plan B, and probably Plan C, allowing for traffic and other possible calamaties, with directions to both the hotel and the concert site. It’s a small price to pay for a night at home.

Sorry, no photos today: everything was packed and ready to go before the concert.