I traveled 43 miles by train yesterday. That seems short but it’s what the Google Maps summary says. I might be misinterpreting it. It was a peripatetic day. As most Fridays do it started with therapy, or more accurately getting to therapy. Yesterday that means walking half a mile and taking a bus half a mile. Then it involved being an idiot. I walked to the MetroNorth from the bus, as I often do, waited 5 minutes for the train as I often do. Boarded the train and wondered why I was in the front car, not the rear as I never do. Then I saw that the next stop was Harlem. I walked to the wrong platform. How did I do that? I never do that. I know this like the back of my hand. Was that freckle always on the back of my hand? I explained to the conductor what happened, and he was understanding but it cost me money. He charged me for the trip to Harlem, but then gave me ticket up to Harrison. Fortunately, I was able to make the next train up to Harrison and that usually gets me there in time for therapy. But that means taking a cab and I didn’t have enough cash on me for that and I wasn’t going to call an Uber which costs almost twice what a local cab does. I walked the 1.7 miles and got to therapy 3 minutes late. Not too bad.
Going to therapy is always a good thing but not something I can write about. I checked when the bus was back to the train station, saw it was running a few minutes early; that’s great. It means I would be able to catch the earlier train. I still had time to go to the bathroom before I left. Then as I was walking to the bus stop I saw the bus arrive. It was even earlier than the app said it was. I missed it and had to walk back to the train station. At least I got a lot of exercise. What I was most upset about was now I didn’t have time to stop at Dunkin’ Donuts. I earned a free drink on the app and I always get mocha cocoa signature latte that I love.
I made my MetroNorth train to Grand Central Station, took the 4 train to Fulton Street, and from there took the PATH to Jersey City. My timing was just about perfect. No wait for the subway or the PATH. That meant I got to Spiral Sounds Concerts aka Gidge and Loyse’s house very early, half an hour before doors. Gidge knows that if somebody gets there that early it’s me. I was there to see The Everly Set. That’s the duo of Sean Altman and his great-grandson Jack Skuller. Jack is not really Sean’s great-grandson, but they make many jokes about their 30+ year age difference. As you might have guessed they play many Everly Brothers songs, but it’s not EverlyBrothersmania. Confession, I saw and enjoyed Beatlemania on Broadway. Sean and Jack aren’t trying to be Phil and Don, they are always themselves, and occasionally Paul and John. It’s a tribute to the two-part harmonies of the Everlys, the music of their time, and the bands they influenced, thus Paul and John making an appearance. There is a lot of patter, half educational, and half humor. I learned things, I laughed; I learned things as I laughed.
None of this would work if they weren’t ace musicians. Sean has long been a master of harmony and harmony arrangements; he was the guy with the braids in Rockapella the band on Where is the World is Carmen Sandiego. Jack is not just a great singer but a great guitarist. They are both great showmen and they have chemistry. They first played together when Jack was 14, Sean was more than three times his age and twice his height. Jack is now 24. People often think they are brothers. They should consider Lasik. Now I’m stealing their jokes. Not stealing, it’s the folk process. I’ve known Sean for about 22 years, hard to believe but the gentleman sitting next to me has known Jack even longer, since birth, Jack’s birth, not the gentleman’s. I should know the gentleman’s name. We’ve met before but as has been established I’m an idiot. I got to meet Sean’s mother. As I’m an idiot, I said, “Hi Sean’s Mother” and never found out her name. Sean grew up withing walking distance of where I now live. I never knew that. Jack grew up a block from the site of the Hamilton-Burr duel. Somehow that does not rate him comps to Hamilton. I really should be put in charge of the world. I wouldn’t allow such injustice.
I almost forgot pictures. I haven’t posted any here in a long time. Last night a few came out well. I asked Sean what those shirts are called. He told me. He showed me the company website. I totally forgot the name now. Why? All together now; I’m an idiot!
Just a little more traveler’s tales before I go. After the show I walked to the PATH train, took that to Herald Square when I switched to the D, which I took home. That’s a simple one. He’s my day’s travels according to Google Maps.
Walked from my house to the bus – 0.6 miles
Bus to the MetroNorth – 0.9 miles (some of this is the walk from the bus to the train)
MetroNorth train to Harlem – 4.9 miles
MetroNorth to Harrison – 17 miles
Walk to therapy – 1.61 miles
Walk to Train Station – 1.55 miles
MetroNorth to Grand Central – 22 miles
4 Train to the Oculus – 3.5 miles
Path Train to Exchange Place – 2.8 miles
Walk to Spiral Sounds – 0.75 miles
Walk to Grove Street PATH station – 0.48 miles
PATH to Herald Square – 3.6 miles
D train to Bedford Park Blvd – 10 miles
Walk home – 0.4 miles.
Total Travels- 70.09 miles.
Don’t tell me that some concert is too far from you when it’s an hour’s drive. I should have added home how much time I spent traveling. Just walking to and from therapy was 57 minutes.
Tonight, I’m off to see Diana Jones at Kathryn’s Space in the East Village; my 8th concert in 9 days. That’s a lot even for me. Tomorrow is a day off.
Wise Madness 