Wednesday was a major milestone in the return to real life; in the afternoon I went to the Met game and in the evening saw Meg Braun at Rockwood Music Hall and went out to dinner afterward with the gang. That’s a lot of goodness for one day.
I love day baseball; we need more of it. I might have felt different if I had to sit in the sun. It was a great game, a pitcher’s duel. Unfortunately, the Mets lost 2-0. Even more unfortunately two Astros, Jordan Alvarez and Jeremy Peña collided and got hurt. Peña could walk off the field, but Alvarez had to ride the cart. At least he was sitting up. He was on the ground so long we were afraid he would leave on a stretcher. I’m having trouble finding their current status, but they don’t seem to be seriously injured but have to undergo concussion protocols. I go to the games with Alan, a doctor, and that was our diagnosis form the stands too. It was the first place both our minds went.
After the game I headed into the City to see Meg. I got there more than an hour early and decided to use the time to scout out the neighborhood for where we could all eat. While doing that I ran into Jay who was doing the same thing. That was the start of the tribal gathering. Jay found a place, Sauce, an Italian restaurant that looked like it could see us, but we couldn’t make plans as we didn’t know how many of us there would be. We decided to go to Rockwood and wait inside and found Meg already there. I have not seen Meg since before COVID-19. I’m not sure how long before the pandemic as she lives in Nashville. All I know for sure was that it’s been too long. One by one the tribe came in. Carolann and Elisa were backing Meg, so we knew they would be there early as was Elisa’s husband Jon. It was not just great seeing them individually but seeing every together. Coco came down from Kingston for the show! This was a special event and the Godmother of Brooklyn Folk, now the Godmother of Hudson Valley Folk didn’t want to miss it. I said to Coco, I wonder how long it would be until someone we didn’t know arrived. It wasn’t long but I guessed who it was. Meg mentioned that her cousin (first cousin once removed) Hannah was coming so when a young woman that resembled Meg came in, I figured it was her. I went over and introduced myself. She wanted to know how I knew Meg and the right answer is that “We’ve all known each other forever.” That’s what mattered not that I met Meg when she came to the Budgiedome and played when our scheduled artist was kidnapped by another music camp. Meg came to the Budgiedome with Aviv who was also there Wednesday. I’m so afraid I’m going to forget somebody. Katherine was a little late, but I knew she’d be there as was Jay’s wife Catherine. Why can’t other people hear the difference between C and K when I say their names. Our final dinner companion was Ellen. I think I actually remembered everyone. I’m picturing us sitting around the dinner table. Ellen, Coco, and I were the only non-musicians. Way back in the day someone gave the set up for an old drummer joke, “What do you call someone with no talent that hangs around musicians?” Before he could give the punchline, someone said, “Gordon.” I resemble that remark.
The show was great, her new album, Better than Fine is her best yet. She has kicked it up another notch. Last night I played my favorite song on the album, Gasoline on Gord’s Gold. You can listen to after noon today if you follow the link. Next week I’m playing another song. I have only an hour a week on the radio; if I play two cuts off an album that’s high praise. Better than Fine deserves it. Meg had some great stage patter. She took issue with the Supreme Court in a great way by talking about her friend that CHOSE to have a baby.
Meg wanted Italian and as she was the visitor from the hinterlands, we followed her hunger and went to Sauce, the restaurant Jay sauced out before the show. I was a bit uncomfortable eating inside but all of us are vaxxed and boosted and several also had COVID-19. One of us had it twice. I test myself frequently and, in a few days, I’ll get tested again. In any event it was worth it. There are few things in life better than hearing music you love with people you love and then going out for dinner with them. I even made a new friend, Hannah, she sat next to me. She met friends with our end of the table. We’re going to go to Cast Party together. Hannah is a cabaret singer and actress. She needs to go to Cast Party.
That was a magical day. The day before, Tuesday, I worked the polls at the Primary Elections. I got there at 5 AM and didn’t get home until 10:30 PM. Maybe I’ll write about that tomorrow as I can’t write about what I thought I would, tonight’s show with The Sea The Sea at City Winery. Why can’t I write about it? The show was last night, I had the day wrong. Shoot me. Not only that but I told Alan that I can’t go to tonight’s Met game. Chuck and Mira are also people that I love that make music that I love. Missing them hurt. I desperately need to go shopping so that’s today’s plan. I’m tempted to go to Trader Joe’s in the City as their eggs are so much cheaper than I can get in the Bronx, and I love their peanut butter. I won’t because the money I save on the eggs is not as much as the $5.50 the subway would cost round trip. My original plan was to stop there before seeing Chuck and Mira. Oh well, I’ll get some proper exercise this way.
Wise Madness 