Well, we certainly are on our way! Yesterday we left the Egg (our rehearsal space) in Portland on our trusty steed at about 3 pm. We were a little behind schedule because we had to make a special stop to pick up a very important snare drummer who was running a bit late. Seems Margarita Man (Topher) had a bit too much on his plate, so we swung the chromed chariot by PSU & picked him up on our way out of town.
We are traveling in STYLE for sure! Nathan (& others, but mostly Nathan!) did an amazing job tricking out the bus with a fridge, freezer, AC/DC power outlets, new hi fi speakers, mobile we-fi unit (if you see MarchFourth Mobile Network on your list of available networks, THAT's US!!!) & lots of food & beer for the road (which is already gone). We had a lovely, leisurely drive to Southern Oregon where my parents live. Most of us spent the trip working on our Red & Blacks we have to wear for the Hollywood Bowl show, playing cards at our new executive seating tables, telling stupid jokes, napping in the cozy dark bunks, chilling in the "green room", reading, & whatever else occupies the time of an intrepid marchfourthian traveler
When we arrived in Medford at my folks house, my Mom informed me that my Dad was in the hospital. It seems he went into cardiac arrest earlier in the day & Mom gave him CPR for 15 minutes until the paramedics arrived. Dad thinks M4 saved his life because if we weren't coming, Mom would have been at work instead of at home getting everything ready for the amazing meal she fed us, and she would not have been there to save him.
Topher, Mom & I went & visited Dad in the CCU this morning at 5 am because we had a 7 pm call to be on the road. Last night, Dad said he didn't want us to visit if it meant it was going to interfere with the tour...we will have none of that!!!! I decided it was extremely important to see him, no matter how early I had to wake up! It was so great to see him, he is doing fine, all hooked up & his heart is ticking along on its own. They will probably have to install a pacemaker, but he is in high spirits & very happy to be among us! His only regret was that he missed the M4 party on our way through town. I reassured him we would be back on our way through in 7 weeks, and that he needs to stick around AT LEAST that long!!!
What a profound & hyperbolic way to begin our tour. It is crazy to be traveling & playing our first show, today on 9/11, honoring that day, honoring my father, honoring all the sacrifices we have made these last few months & all work it took to get to this point in our career as a band. What an amazing, humbling & powerful existence we have the chance to lead.
It is not lost on me that we are taking on this endeavor of peace, creativity & transformation on this day, September 11. It is almost prophetic. We can only hope that through our efforts in music & performance, we can usher in an era of understanding, compassion, love & FUN! We recognize the past, are fully here in the present, and say bring on a better, peace-filled future!
Much love to you Dad (GET WELL!), and Mom, M4 thanks you soooo much for all the awesome carne asada & tacos & strawberry shortcake. (We still have 10 pounds of carne asada in the fridge!) Truly, over & above the call of duty, given the circumstances!!! You are a saint! WE LOVE YOU!!!
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