Day 19: Presence (Palmdale to Anaheim)

After eighteen days we finally had a proper day off.

No shows, no driving. Vegetating, hanging by the pool. We shut the operation down. Off.

This has been my longest tour since covid. I remember the last day, of the last tour we did pre-shutdown. I stared out at a hill in Italy for hours, savoring the view. After that day I wasn't able to perform again for two years. That memory has stuck with me. You never know when the last time you'll do something is.

We have two shows left. My goal: presence.

As the de-facto tour manager, all day I make decisions to set things up for success: Drive now to save time later, this hotel has better breakfast reviews, that gas station has food, guest lists, merch counts... it's endless. For this final weekend I've made three day's worth of choices in advance.

I want to live in the moment. I did my best throughout this run to stop and smell the pavement. I did my best on the day off to rest. I still went on a run, but I also watched two movies.

Even as I ache to get back to my routine, it's not lost on me how special this has been. In a few weeks I won't remember the miles, those wear off. What will remain is pride, accomplishment.

We have two shows left and then a monstrous thirty hour drive to Chicago, but for right the plan is to enjoy.