Special thanks to all who have travelled along with us via the blog. It has been wild having people come up to us on the trip and say they have been following our adventures. Love your emailed comments too. I will continue to post Cheryl Wheeler videos on the hahborgurl YouTube station and write my impressions of concerts on the google group Cheryl Wheeler mailing list. Also, Aimee and I can always be reached via nicerendition.com
Hahborgurl signing off…for now.
April 2 marks 14 years that Aimee and I have lived together. In August we will be married for 8 years. (yes we played G/B at the ceremony) I can’t imagine my life without her. We met at a Cheryl Wheeler concert. I’m not sure how our paths would have crossed were it not for Cheryl. Who else but Aimee would put up with, if not match my devotion to our favorite folksinger. Happy Anniversary, love. As incredible an experience as this trip has been, we look forward to returning to family and friends at home. Mama Marcia, my MIL, kindly gave us the trip plane tickets for my fiftieth and we look forward to giving her a big hug. Of course in New England we are spoiled and never have to wait too long to hear Cheryl or Kenny again.
Carole Aimee Kenny Cheryl
Last night finished out our 13 show run as pretend roadies for Cheryl and Kenny. Since Nice Rendition came out in July 2010, Aimee and I have been traveling around to Cheryl shows in New England, NY, NJ, PA, OH, MI, FL, TX, CO and now the West Coast in order to provide the book to fans who also hold Cheryl’s lyrics in high-esteem. Introducing the world of calligraphy and providing attention to another aspect of Cheryl’s talent has been beyond rewarding. We have learned a lot about the transition away from print books and the intense love some people have still for holding a book and lovingly turning the pages. We have been so moved as people have shared their connection to Cheryl’s and Kenny’s music. Their songs hold our hand in painful times, celebrate joy and humor as well as make us look inward and see ourselves differently. To see them perform one really witnesses more than a concert. These two are beams of light that lift up all lucky enough to be present at their concerts. So just like a beautiful sunset or smiling eyes, I never tire of that experience.
Here are three of the calligraphers whose beautiful work appears in Nice Rendition: Cheryl Wheeler’s Lyrics in Calligraphy. Aimee did the Gandhi/Buddha and Counterversion pieces. Cheryl and Cathleen collaborated on these pieces with Aimee by handwriting the verses which are paired with her calligraphy. Those two pieces are placed in the center and represent the heart of the project (MAP’s brilliant idea) Katherine Malmsted did the playful Little Kids for Nice Rendition. She used the family circus cartoon as an inspiration. I love the fingerprints! Kristen Doty did the beauty, Spring. She highlighted the phrase “And I will sail out over the ocean Stare down into the sea Feel the warm salty wind of salvation blowin through me” So well done. Aimee and I so appreciate the time that all 60 calligraphers put into this project. It truly was a labor of love from so many to showcase Cheryl’s beautiful lyrics. It is truly one of those projects that rational thought and conventional business practices would have squashed. Let’s hear it for following what makes sense to our hearts and following the trail of love in its many forms.
Jennifer was the accompanist for Aimee’s chorus, Voices Rising, before she relocated to the West Coast. She joined us for the incredible show at the Triple Door in Seattle. The venue is a restaurant club with delicious Asian food and an upscale feel. Of all the venues we went to I would say that only the Freight in Berkeley surpassed it. My only complaint was the clanking of plates and the waitstaff being attentive to their customers during the show. Some music is OK to listen to that way but I find that a bit too distracting for a Cheryl and Kenny show. I thought both Kenny and Cheryl were really in top form for this one. They described feeling bittersweet about the tour ending. Looking forward to home but sorry their time together had to end. Super enthusiastic crowd which was a great way to end this tour- day 32 for Cheryl and Kenny who started in Alaska and day 25 for us. The show was recorded. Hopefully it will be part of a new live album. Some old and lots of new songs. Hope they can put it together for a new CD. We got to meet more Cheryl fan list people. I think her music attracts people with big hearts and a sense of humor so what a joy to get to meet some of the fans on this coast.
The sun is out in Seattle! Yay! Here is our hotel greeting committee. They don’t look equipped to help us with the bags though.
