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Off I went to Look for America
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Posted by: laborat
So I'm listening to Jazz on my way out of the city. A College station playing stuff cutting edge. I always listen to Jazz when I'm driving...It has a way of making you think about stuff that you don't normally think about. I was off to look for America...or at least that part of America I could get to on a Tank of Gas.
I guess the first I was wanting to know, is...How Normal is it out there? We have had a lot of talk from the President and Captains of Industry that America should return to Normal. It seems at least from Watching TV, (any channel) that people are undecided about whether we should go back to Normal.
With Good reason in my book.
Postmaster General saying we might want to wash our hands after we open our mail...California gets told oh, by the way, during rush hour terrorists are thought to be targetting our bridges and don't worry about the National Guard posted along the road. And its not just History that is after us...They also found several more birds in St. Louis infected with the West Nile Virus.
Highway 70 to Columbia was a jumble of Trucks and Vans, both lanes...all the way to Highway 54, the Junipers and Cedars and Evergreens glowing like Jade among the washed out rust reds, yellows and browns of leaves just waiting for a strong wind to fall....Down to hear some good music and see if I could find that Normal I was looking for...
I ended up in the studio, listening to a new song demo recorded by Chris Edwards of the Catnip Mouse Band. I really enjoyed the Female Vocalist on the Track, "You Got Trouble No More". The Studio at 508 Music has increased its Biz and is now booked up till past January. Kudos to Pete Szkolka for being a Fine Producer.
The very first thing I noticed after being away for almost 6 months..Is that you almost have to live in a spot to not notice how much things have changed...I shake my head at all that prime time fertile plowing ground, being covered by sub-divisions.
For the first time in my life I actually felt like I could actually get lost in my Home Town. Well...That's not Normal I said to myself.
First stop that night was the Music Cafe, one of the many great band spots on the Strollway. One of my favorite groups, the Dynamics were playing, and people were dancing. People always dance to a Horn Band, and they got 4 of Them. In between sets though as we stood outside breathing some air instead of cigarette smoke, the talk was of cancelled gigs.. mostly for conventions... not as much money for Bands this year for New Years...people are not moving around like they did priot to 911.
I had been fortunate to come at a time when several shows were going on so I had the opportunity to see a lot of people..old band mates, cast mates, and festival buddies. Its normal to want to see old friends, so I was starting to understand that maybe that is what I really wanted to know before I set off... whether I myself was normal...(the fact I would even think this is not normal) but I gave the edge to Normal because the music was so hot.
The Following night found me at Glen's Cafe, where I dined with an old friend and we hurt ourselves on Jumbo Shrimp, Pork Loin,
and Apple Cornbread Dressing. Greens were not optional but mandantory. What really Helped was Henry Clay and The New Madrid EarthQuake. a Rural Country Blues Band that includes two members of the Bel Aires, and Forrest the Rose on Bass. These guys sound like James Cotton did in the 60s. The Full Reed Rhythmn Lines so artfully blown by Henry Clay are reminescent of the Harmoica styles that were being saved by a then, younger generation of Blues performers.
Later that nite, I was back in the Merc headed somewhere in the dark. Seen enough for a while. I could see where I could really get in trouble if I stayed too long, and thats usually a good sign you should pack it up or call your bail bondsman...
All in all it was a good trip.....No Greyhounds commandeered by idiots and rolled over in the highway, No idiots sprinkling flour in the Post Office. No news on what we might be doing if we were the type of people that did that kind of thing in the first place.
I had a near life experience on the third day, but it turned out to be gas.
So did I pack it up or call my Bail Bondsman?
No reason to tell which one I really did.
and That's about as Normal as it gets.
Posted by: Mr.Dragon
Posted by: Canis Lupus
Looks to me like a good end to a great trip  Cheers!
Posted by: Shalome
Laborat, my friend, you just made me more homesick than I ever thought I could be. Going over that last hill after you hit the Boone County line on I-70, but before the Columbia exits...
I could see all those places in my mind while reading your description, missing all the times I spent wandering 9th street late at night. My boyfriend used to be a chef at Glen's -- I remember dropping him off in the mornings on the corner of 9th and Cherry, watching him walk to work under the huge graffitti "must you conform???" that was spray-painted on the Cherry St. side of Glen's.
I used to play guitar at the Music Cafe. I've watched many friends take that stage as well. The windows were always steamed up once the weather got cold, and that warm orange-brown color of the walls just feels good to think about.
Did you make it to Ernies? That place never seems to change...
Posted by: laborat
Yes I did make it to Ernies.. had a number 8...they give me
the PRO coffee drinkers cup...hehe
Missed the Close of Mugs Up though.. i really really really
wanted one last Cheese chile dawg with lots of onions and
a root beer float...
One of the first things i always do when I cross that Bridge into Boone County, is say, Hello Boone County!!!
Posted by: Fink
that sounded like it was fun... i havent gone any where for like 2 years except my grandmother's house for cristmas... i think that would be a fun trip to take some time but to much trafic here hehe 
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