I’m smiling. The current situation isn’t ideal, but sometimes you have to do what you need to do to get to do what you want to do. But I’ll get to that later.
It’s surreal that I’m already at home looking back on our tour. I think the fast pace of D.C., Philly, and New York definitely made things seem to go by faster, but then again our pace was no slower in White Mountain National Forest and Acadia National Park. I feel like we were on a mission this summer. I know I was.
There was only so much time, and we wanted to experience as much as possible. The sustained momentum definitely required recharge days which were few and far between. The last two weeks were especially tough travel-wise, but the shows we had on the weekend in between and into the last week produced some great hang time with some of our aunts, uncles, and cousins. These stops in Richmond, Charleston, and Jacksonville were so special in that we got to spend some rare quality time with distant family, and we got a break from setting up and tearing down camp.
There were so many high points and learnings that I may expound on in later writings, but what is standing out to me right now is the tour closing weekend at The Paradise Inn. First, being at the Dise is like being at our home away from home. We love the staff and the vibe, and there’s always some New Orleans cats hanging out getting a break from the city. I could write a whole essay on why I want to play Paradise until I die, but that’s another story.
Normally at this point of the tour we’re halfway through Texas, and we all hate each other. Driving through the vast expanse of Texas definitely plays a role in our moods, but it’s mostly our depleted energy tanks that puts us on edge. Paradise gave us the boost that we know so well, but being as tired as I was, I didn’t expect to completely flow with it the way I did.
It was a perfect storm that I had never known before. The forecast was for August, Andre, Dave P., and myself to perform opening sets of my music to support The Walrus, Andre and Dave’s Beatles tribute band. We knew we had friends and family coming to meet us and stay the weekend. We knew we all get some saltwater therapy together. We all knew it would be a good time. What I didn’t know was the size of the exclamation point it would put on this tour. I didn’t realize how fulfilled I would actually be, especially since I was having trouble being present earlier in the trip. It was a feeling of familiarity that we hadn’t felt in a long time, and I don’t ever want to end our tour differently.
Playing with and watching August on both the djembe and the drum set had me beaming. His levels of ability and confidence far exceed where he was last year, and being able to witness this over the last sixty days was nothing short of amazing. One of the highlights of the second day at the Dise was when August’s big brother, Killian, joined us on stage. I couldn’t imagine a better way to wrap things up for the summer.
To revisit my opening line, I lay here tonight, alone, writing these thoughts. Maggie had just enough time for a quick nap before we dropped her off to the airport for a work conference in Orlando. I know she’s gotta be tired and a bit out of sorts going from one extreme to the next so quickly. I’m sad to be without her as I go through these memories, but I know what she’s about to experience is going to make an already great teacher even greater.
I want to thank all of you who have followed along, sent messages of encouragement, or supported from afar. Your interactions have given us a connection to the outside world that is so necessary sometimes when traveling so far from home. And to the hosts, I can’t begin to thank you enough for the events you curated, the hospitality you extended, and the friendship and love you shared. On behalf of all the Doussans Be Trippin’ clan, thank you so much.
As for me, I’m in a much better place than when I left. I’ve ultimately decided that I will be getting the Dissectomy to repair my nerve pain in August, and I am confident that I will be pain free by this time next year. I have a clear vision and determination, and that’s all I need. I’ll always strive to be better.
Well, thats a wrap for Doussans Be Trippin’ 2022!! Until next time, remember the words of Spencer Bohren and be good to yourselves and each other.
Much love.
Mike