I am on my way to Gambier, Ohio, home of Kenyon College. I’m told that Kenyon is among the most expensive liberal arts schools in the country, which I assume is the principle reason that parents send their kids there. I have been to Gambier three times. It is a lovely campus and the people seem nice, but Kenyon’s isolation leaves little room for the kind of experiences that I think people need in their late teens/early 20’s in order to enter adulthood with the perspective they need to function. There is little diversity, not a lot of struggle, few threats from the outside world. By threats I mean, “opportunities for punctuated character development.” Regardless, it’s a pretty drive, the money is green, and if I am still lucky enough to pass for a student, I will eat for free.
Today is my 36th birthday, and I have a cold. As you know, I’m in a band whose youngest member is 19, so I’m feeling particularly old and run down. It’s also the first time I’ve ever been single on tour, and I’m trapped between anticipation and insecurity. Being in a band has never served me romantically, and I don’t know how to develop whatever skill I need to make a transition into tour-inspired lechery. To be honest, I’m not even sure want to try. I need to figure out my goal for this tour, other than having fun and rocking out, which are inevitable. I want to use this journey as a means of finding myself in some way. There are many things I need to sort out, and this tour affords me the time for personal reflection, the separation from the comfort zone of my home and my friends, and the opportunities to meet new people and expose myself to new perspectives (and strangers).
Climate is a bitch. We thought we were being wise in choosing to tour the Midwest in October. CMJ is happening in New York City while we’re out, so trying to go there would be pointless. It’s best to wait to go south until it’s colder everywhere else. The Midwest is off limits from November until May because of the chance of snowstorms. Well, it’s time to adjust that range of times, because it snowed right before we left. On the plus side, the leaves are changing and the Appalachians are beautiful. This is my favorite time of year.
I don’t know how this blog is going to work out. I’m writing it in part to keep friends and family informed about my condition and whereabouts. I’m also hoping to use it just to get my thoughts out there so they don’t rattle around in my head too much. I’m aware of the inherent vanity of this kind of thing, and it makes me feel weird. So as long as I feel weird, nobody will think I’m arrogant if I keep writing it, right?
The last thing I’m going to say in this entry is that this group of people, for all of their foibles, is made up of some great travelers. They don’t complain, they don’t have to use the bathroom every half hour, and they don’t smell bad. We’re only a few hours down the road, but as scared as I am of how this tour is going to go, I’m glad that the pressures and boredom of the road won’t be much of a factor.
nice piece there, james. wishing you luck on this tour, my friend. sounds like you have a healthy attitude to this whole endeavor. as for exposing yourself to new friends, be careful. we're more tolerant of that down here ;) kenyon sounds a lot like duke.
ReplyDeleteKenyon also has some pretty famous alums: Paul Newman, Jonathan Winters and Bill Waterson (Calvin & Hobbes) have fun, we'll miss you on the lanes.
ReplyDeleteyou're going to expose yourself to strangers? that may swiftly put you on the road to jail, silly.
ReplyDeletethanks for writing this. what better place is there to put the stuff in your head than the internet for everyone else to wade through? sheesh.
Hang in there, HEP!
ReplyDeleteCircumstances will turn in your favor.
These are experiences that you will share (and embellish) with your grandkids!
And, beyond that, although the particular logistics may be less than optimal...remember....you are getting to do what you love....play music, with a band, on tour.
Enjoy!
Dave