Nashville

Last night we went to Nashville to hear my friend Paul play in the Marine Band. We left at nearly 4pm, got to Nashville at 6:30, met Neil's friend Greg at his place, drove to an amazingly yummy Indian restaurant and ate dinner too quickly (wish we could have enjoyed it more). Got to the concert site at 7:25...the ticket said to be seated by 7:15...d'oh! We had to wait until they let us in...a few pieces into the program.

The band is really good. I've never heard a gaggle of piccolos sound so unified in Stars & Stripes. Bravi tutti! Though, I wasn't sure if the band sounded so crisp and dry because the hall (a gym) sucked the passion out of the sound, if it was because they strive for militaristic precision, if it was simply the nature of the band as an ensemble, or if they were just kind of bored at the end of the tour. Candide in particular was lacking that on-the-edge energy I'm used to hearing...a little too careful. Enjoyed watching the trombone mute dance and the conductor with the funny technique. I won the game "Stinger...or no stinger?" for Semper Fidelis. The answer? No stinger.

After the concert, the boys somehow lowered Paul's tuba into the trunk of Greg's car (if you've ever wondered how many people it takes to put a tuba in the trunk of a sedan, the answer is three...I didn't feel the need to go out into the cold to watch too) and we all went to a local pub near Greg's house for a pint (water for me...by this point in the evening I had almost completely lost my voice thanks to the lovely cold that invaded my body on Monday). Much joyful chatting ensued and two hours passed very quickly.

We left at about 12:15am or so and got home at 2:45am. I didn't want to go -- I was having such a super-fantastic time despite the fact that I was fighting my recalcitrant vocal cords. We got a couple hours of sleep before getting up for work (three-show day for Neil...ugh). Today, my voice is entirely non-extant. I've forwarded my phone elsewhere because I'm on mute.

I could say that a couple of hours isn't enough time for a gathering of folks who haven't seen each other in about six years, but really it's just that the gatherings are far too infrequent! Though, how wonderful it is that no matter how long it has been since you've seen a good, true friend, you always seem to fall into the same groove and pick up more or less where you left off? Almost as if no time has passed at all. Perhaps this is why the gatherings are infrequent: it's too easy to let the time pass. You just know that person will still love you in another six years...so why go through the trouble of making plans?

Once a year. Once a year, or maybe every other year, we should have a huge party with all our friends...and make sure everyone can come. What time of year is good for you? How far would you be willing to travel? You all need to come. It's been too long. I miss you.