Good People

So... wow. there is a lot of recapping to do. I'm not going to be able to get to all of it, but I'll do the best I can to catch you guys up on the high-spots.





With the CV joint situation that I mentioned in a previous blog, again, we were broke.


So, we had gone to a couple open mic nights.... 'Smiley`s being our favorite venue. So on a very uneventful night (I think it was the next day after our parking garage exp) We were parking behind Smileys and John decided to go in and ask about some work or booking a show there.


It was freezing cold, and I had already turned in for the night under the covers in the bus, so he originally went in by himself; but after a while, nature got the best of me, so I reluctantly found a sweatshirt and headed inside where I found John leaned up against the bar listening to some of the same guys play that we had seen the week before at 'Open Mic'.





The owner was to our right, but it didn't look like a good time to interupt him and ask about work. He was off the clock. So we listened to the music for a while and headed outside to smoke.





Debating our options and laughing about our situation, John handed me a cigarette. I asked a gentleman that I had seen just light up, if I could use his light. Meet Glen.


An extremely friendly outgoing man in his thirties (I'm guessing). He joked about my not being so well prepared with such a needed item, and lit my cigarette. The bonding of a good friendship began. He introduced himself and asked us where we were from. We swapped stories. When he found out we were musicians, he told us he was there that night looking for talent to play his private party in about two weeks. "I think we can work that out".





People are kind. There are good people, lots of good people in this world. As cynical as I try to be, Glen and Amy are proof that there are genuine people. As we spent the next few days with them, talking, laughing, getting hot showers, and really having the best time (in my opinion) so far on our trip. We also met a few of their friends, who were just as giving as they were; and embraced us. Sharing everything they had with us. I can't speak for John, but I will say for myself, I learned a lot, and it was so good for me to spend time with them as a couple. They have truly been a blessing to us both.





I'll get back to the following week and Glen and Amy's party in a bit, but I'd like to cover a little of what happened meanwhile the next week in Asheville for the remainder of this blog.





We were able to go up to Asheville the next week and spend a week there. Playing on the street, meeting more people and having a great time. I went to my first homeless shelter while in Asheville. The food was horrid, but the people were friendly and kind. We met lots of other street musicians, from the sweet, yet annoying, to Red. A man that helped show-us-the-ropes if you will.








The Harvest Festival:


We met Red, our second day in Asheville setting up to try and, again, play on the street. We hadn't done too bad the day before, making 15.00 we were able to, purchase cigarettes and coffee, as well as a little dinner. He told us where all the best spots were in town to play, and armed with his knowledge and a song we had learned off of a CD Glen and Amy gave us, we doubled our income.





The next day, we woke up late and were going to try our hand again, on the street corner, when we heard some music already playing in one of the squares.


A stage, and free food! We had hit the jack-pot!


We found out it was something called The Harvest Festival. A group of people who travel around playing gospel music and feeding the homeless; sponsored by local churches of that individual community.


I sat there in awe pretty much, as i watched all kinds of people come out of the wood work to eat and sit in the sun while listening to uplifting music. I saw a mother with two children eating and laughing there on the sidewalk. Who knows what their story was. Like everyone else there, they had their own. One veteran lifted his hands from the brace of his wheal chair where he had rolled to the front of the stage, to thank the band and worship God. I was touched to say the least and don't think i did a good job of hiding it. But it was an experience for some reason, was monumental to me, and not soon forgotten.


That whole week in Asheville was a real eye opener for me. Blessed with the opportunity to meet so many people from different walks of life. I got to see a lot of things that really made me question myself on my values, and the judgment I've passed on others. I felt guilty in a lot of ways. There is always a reason people end up where they are. Ours was, we were traveling, made some stupid decisions maybe, and needed hot showers and some food. But as I got to talk to others, things had happened to them too that wasn't there fault. Sometimes it was, but it always is at some point.

Excepting responsibility for one's actions doesn't negate the facts of the current situation we're left with.


It is the ultimate expression of love, to reach down a hand; and not ask for an explanation.

One other really awesome part of that week was the Linard Cohen concert! Some guy just came up and asked us if we were going. "I wish!". "Well, you are now", He simply replied. "Have fun kids." And handed us two tickets. I had a blast, but wasn't all that familiar with exactly who Linard Cohen was at that point. This was a huge deal to John as he kept saying, "I can't believe this is happening!"

Good people.