Cayamo Cruising....

Sometimes it is hard to play. I recently went on a cruise, and it was difficult. I felt so very very strange, so out of sorts. It is hard to explain, but it was, as I sit in this plane going to Seattle, very much like the head I get when I fly...... Sort of like- impossible to think. Tired. Kind of dopey, actually. But not in a good way at all.....

The first night I was there, I ran into Wayne, who I first met at SAMW (Summer Acoustic Music Week). He was leading a small group of folks who are playing together, in a lounge right near a bar, center of the ship. We play a few songs, and I am asked to lead a tune. I choose Angel from Montgomery, as I had JUST heard John Prine (one of my musical heros) do the song in concert on board. When I dared to look around, I saw lots of smiles, people who had stopped just to hear the song. Of course, that felt REAL good......

The next day, after all the shows I wanted to see were done, I eagerly grabbed my guitar and went to the lounge near the bar. Tonight, there were about 20 people crowded in the area. Good players, lots of energy. I was feeling weird, my head felt like I couldn't think my way out of a paper bag....... But I followed along, strumming until I realized I had to go to sleep. Of course, that was when someone looked around the group and saw me there on the outskirts.

'You gotta song?'

'You want some Neil Young?'

Of course they did. I stepped into the middle of the circle, turned off that shyness, turned on my 'stage thing' and taught them the chords briefly and we were OFF!!!! What a LOT of fun!!!! Singing the choruses at the top of their lungs, the audience and other players smiled and clapped and listened and played. I asked for and got some amazing solos!!! I walked out of the group with several folks commenting on the energy, the song choice, the leadership. I left soon after (I really DID need to SLEEP).

The next night we met in  this area that at the back of the boat, where food was served as a buffet. It had a big canvas awning and was my favorite breakfast place. A few folks had gathered there and we spent some time strumming and teaching each other songs. The most memorable thing about that night was a man who sang a few songs he wrote..... And every tune was funny, well sung-- great songs done well....... I wish I had gotten his contact info right then, as I never ran into him again.

So, the next night, I was even more fatigued. The constant rocking movement (we had 'Moderate Seas' most of the time) really was wearing on me. However, after seeing all the shows I wanted, I grabbed my guitar and headed to the place I was told we would be meeting that night. You see, I was told, and it may have been meant differently, but......

I was told that the 'real' musicians (as opposed to us hacks, I suppose) were going to be in the lounge outside the bar, and you had to be invited to play. The kind of playing situation that I don't do well in at all.... So I headed out to the outside food area, where I met Wayne........ And couldn't play to save my life. I couldn't remember ANYTHING, I could not follow the songs he was trying to teach me. I think I did 'Leaving on a Jet Plane', and did get some clapping by the folks taking a late nite snack, but *I* didn't feel good about the performance. We then went and met the other folks in the library, where I did not do any better, and left after a short time. I heard that the 'by invite only' jam was really a lot of fun..... and wished I had gone, just to listen, but I sure was glad I didn't try to play at THAT.....

I tried to change my strings after that, but didn't have the tools. I also didn't have the energy. Everything, absolutely everything, became a large, hard thing to accomplish. I only played in the room  after that. It seemed the music left me as the fatigue grew.

It took me a while after I got home to feel normal again, but I do, finally. I have written some new tunes, and I can't get enough of the sound of my guitar. I restrung the travel guitar and it waits right now in its case, in the luggage bin over my head in this plane bound for Seattle. I will be getting it out. I will likely be playing and singing Neil Young songs with my other Neil Young -loving buddies before too long.

Glad the music came back to me.....

(I should say before leaving this post, that although the music seemed to leave ME, I still greatly enjoyed all the music I heard from so many fantastic musicians on this cruise..... James McMurtney, John Prine, Richard Thompson, Shawn Mullins, Chuck Cannon. WOW.)