Yet another great night at the CU, sounds like a broken record, I realize, but that's how it seems, hanging with friends, making good music, being an integral part of the mix. It's like Cheers in a way, everybody knows your name and they're mostly glad to see you. My quartet had its final appearance and we were really tight, really musical, good crowd, and it's just a great feeling to see the music develop, the harmonies tighten, the communication become more instantaneous. I was in great voice last night and that's a good thing too. I'll go back there this evening and play bass for Joe (Germany) and Jelly (Ireland) who have the Saturday night late set. More fun, more harmony, more good vibes.
People are dropping like flies now, returning to their native lands, and yeah, that's OK. For one thing the weather is turning real hot, and the air quality is awful due to the 'burning season'. Some people are really suffering with it, not me, though there is occasional eye irritation. There is a two or three month window of hot weather and bad air before the monsoons kick in in June and July. There are many farewells in the air, and one of the sweetest ones was the other night when I said goodbye to Apple, one of the greatest guys I've ever played with.
He's an extraordinary person, short in stature, barrel chested, some kind of disability that makes him walk unsteadily and with a limp, long haired Thai, early fifties, one of the kindest, most accepting people I've ever met. Everyone loves the guy, me included. He's totally clean and sober, drinks a cup of warm Ovaltine during his gig, sings great, gets way into the music, plays outstanding lead guitar, has a vast repertoire of tunes that he delivers with passion. When I told him that it was our last time playing together for now, he shook hands, thanked each other, told each other how much we learned from one another, and called each other 'friend'. It's true, and it's one of the purest examples of music being the 'international language'. Apple's English is rudimentary at best, so our connection was not about words but about knowing how to connect as musicians. He's got great ears, (as do I), he is hyper aware of what's happening in the music, and there is a smile throughout the night. We'll stay connected on Facebook, and I dearly hope that we get to resume next year.... enshallah...
M and I are in good form, not perfect, but then again she's working a ton, she's in some pain in her neck and shoulder and is basically hanging on for another month until her job ends. She wants to sleep for a month, she says, 'recharge her batteries', (somehow she learned that expression, and uses it in this context). She told a joke last night that she translated into English from one of the magazines she likes to read. She got a great response and it's a good joke.
Mary goes to the church and tells the priest that her husband Paddy just died last night. Father Hennessy says, 'Oh what a tragedy, I'm so sorry. Oh poor Mary!. What were his last words?
She replied, 'his last words were 'Mary, put the gun down'
I'm getting ready to make my exit from Chiang Mai, starting to set up some gigs in the northwest, feeling OK at the moment about being out of here, it's reality, so let's deal with it. Eugene is a good place to be, it's a good existence (he said hopefully) and there is a lot that I love about it, so on we go. I feel like I've done the right thing with M, have given her a good opportunity to 'recharge' and plot a new course, and I don't really feel any attachment to the outcome. It's up to her. (That's a very common thing you hear here.... 'up to you') We love each other, maybe there's a future in it, maybe not, we'll just have to see. In the meantime there is stuff to do, stuff to learn, miles to cover, money to make. I've got my Buddha around my neck and good energy in my heart.
Today is Saturday, I'm on a flight on Tuesday evening, cross the date line and just like that, back in the cold and green and wet. Amazing....
