Closer They Are to Fine

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of seeing my friends Girlyman open for the Indigo Girls. I've known Nate since our Boston open mic days, and it was good to catch up and see my friends sing their hearts out. I had a moment while watching them on stage with the Indigo Girls sing and play on "Closer to Fine" where I felt so HAPPY for them. Tammy and Doris started their once vibrant duo act, Garden Verge, in college, inspired by the Indigo Girls. Now they were on stage with those two women they listened to in their dorm rooms, singing what has got to be the most sung song on the planet. Anyone who has ever had a dream of singing on stage--even for a moment--has belted this song alone, in the car, or in a room full of friends late at night with a guitar. Here they were peforming it with the artists who, years ago, made sensitive, powerful women's voices cool again. It was pretty sweet.

Later Nate and I went for a walk and talked about creativity and histories and all the stuff that life is made of. We talked of an ex of mine, who we both knew way back when, who is rumored to be writing a book of his expereriences in a music scene. I laughingly told him how when I heard this rumor, I thought, I better not be f***ing in that book! He doesn't deserve to write about me! Then Nate said, "Yeah, but then what if you're NOT in it? You'd probably feel just as pissed--like where the f*** am I??" I laughed hysterically at the ego-centric truth of it! That was absolutely TRUE! Ha!

We talked about how everyone has gone on to their seperate paths. One person we knew is selling songs to big recording artists. The ex above is writing. Nate joined on with Tammy and Doris to form Girlyman, and are now doing really really well. Me, I am making calendars, and moving to New York, and planning a tour (just to see what sticks). I remember when we were all so hell bent on one particular path, and that was it. It's been hitting me lately how life just isn't so direct as we all think it is. It's a zig-zag, connect-the-dots sort of life. When it is all said and done, what picture will emerge, I wonder?

I got to meet the Indigo Girls themselves, who were sweet, funny women. Emily was wearing a Pretenders t-shirt and we bonded on how frickn' awesome Chrissie Hynde is. I think I have a crush on Amy, who is gorgeous in person, and who rocks a mandolin to its splintered bones. Moments later, we sang happy birthday to Turtle, the merch gal, and ate incredible mocha cake. It was the best rendition of "Happy Birthday" I've ever heard, complete with harmonies by voices I remember hearing years ago on a boom box in my college dorm. This was years before I picked up a guitar, and ever sang in public. I never thought I could sing, but when a certain song came on--you know the one--I belted it, just for the fun of filling my lungs with a good song.