How appropriate that a "dustyvolume" should reply!
No, I will not be able to make it to the Taft, though seeing OTR in its original form would be nice to see one more time.
Different priorities in life now.
Please forgive the rant, but to be honest, I've drifted from the band and I've moved on a little from them. The last few shows I've seen were musically exquisite, but lacked the personality and "we're all a family" feel that I so miss since even Jack was with them. The recent shows were a year apart, but they were practically carbon copies of one another.
Now don't get me wrong before I'm crucified for my views, because they are still a wonderful band and the music is still beautiful. It's just that it doesn't suit where I am as much these (latter) days. I miss the levity and excitement of not knowing what would happen next on stage. The last couple of shows have been rather predictable and routine for me (even though I still enjoyed them) and not even Lindford hung around to say hello to anyone afterwards the last time. They played and left.
(To be fair, I toured a whole, solid year with a ministry band years ago, and I fully understand off days and being run down on the road. Still, it was our job to put our best effort to talk to people, regardless how tired and worn out we were. I'm not faulting them or saying I'm better than anyone, but the band is rightfully evolving. I'm just evolving in a different direction.)
When I fell in love with Over the Rhine, I also fell in love with the list community that existed at the time. It was where I was in life. It was what I needed at the time. The music and people all spoke to me in a language beyond words. It was an artistic and creative and insane honey which flowed through my innermost being. It was a bohemia tucked away in the woods. I also made several dear and lifelong friends because of it.
But I remember clearly the letter Lindford sent the Orchard workers so long ago. Do we remain a vegetable stand on the side of the road, happy with our loyal customers, or enter the supermarket highway and get our fruit out to the masses, even if it means loosing some of that personal, hometown charm?
We all encouraged them to aim for the highest star. I loudly echoed the cheers of everyone else with every ounce of encouragement I could muster.
And sure enough, the fruit began to show up at the supermarkets and the roadside stand was abandoned for a larger, brighter, newer building.
I would still walk by the old, dilapidated stand. Once, I even picked up a small piece of fallen timber as a reminder of those days.
The new, shiny community was impressive, but I quickly got lost in the aisles and found it difficult to find things. I missed the warped, wooden shelves with items stacked in neat and random patterns upon them. Though others were able to adapt, myself being the accused luddite, I quietly opted to fall back into comfortable shadows and to cherish the overgrown rows of the now forgotten orchard.
Others missed the old store, too, as is evidenced by the existence of this ragamuffin home deep in the woods. While heavy in a sea of dust, you can always see when someone visits, even for the simplest of hellos.
I may linger often on the past, but I try to keep an eye on what is to come. I see roads and paths that mingle and part. Some meet up again, others do not. While my road with Over the Rhine seems to have parted somewhat at the moment, I cannot say whether it will meet again or not. I do know that my excitement for them is not what it once was. I have other priorities now. Other desires. Untouched paper and antique pens brimming rich with ink. I think it is time to write and draw again.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this rant, or perhaps I do. If anyone has a clue, feel free to inform me. This is not meant to be a goodbye, rather a postcard to say "I'm fine, how are you? Wish you were here. How's the weather there?"
Does any of this make sense?
b
Post by dustyvolume-/Subject: Re: [lostees] So.
Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 10:54 AM
Nice seque, Rick!
Are you coming to Taft? We'll be there o. The aisle on
the front row! :)
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:41:02
Subject: Re: [lostees] So.
(opens creaky door)
Wow. Look at the dust in this place. And the cobwebs. The
dust has had time to settle to the floor, hasn't it? I
feel like I'm leaving footprints in snow.
Somebody open the drapes. It could use a little sunlight in
here.
There's an old photo album still open on the table.
The cupboards are bare.
Doesn't look like anyone's lived here for some
time.
So many memories in this place. What a time of innocence
and levity. Of wonderful foolishness and hard growing up. I
still hear echos in my mind's ear. All my love to long
ago...
Subject: [lostees] So.
To: "Lostees"
Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 8:13 AM
It's been a while.
Who's going to the Taft, then?
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