My Life is Like This:
Everything comes down to the performance.
For the past four weeks, my life revolved around how I would get myself to where I was last night: On Stage -- at my best. Everything else becomes secondary.
Such as, the dishes, eating, um... a bed, a chair to sit on (yes, a chair). As long as my drums were in place and I had a place to practice, nothing else mattered.
Why would anyone choose to live such a life?
One reason was all of the high school students that showed up at the dress rehearsal on Thursday morning. When one came up and said, "you are my inspiration..." I take that very seriously. It is one of the things that keeps me going.
Another?
That I get to make music with so many different and amazing musicians. The conductor, Maximiano Valdes was outstanding, and a really great person. Sitting between him and David Stock last night, listening to all of the wisdom they have acquired from years in the business, was a moment in my life that I will never take for granted -- or forget.
The New Orleans Philharmonic and I have one thing in common. We've both withstood hardship, devastation, and loss ... but still met each other with open arms last night, and continue to stand when we all could have given up.
I'm in New Orleans. A place that seemed like a far away land to me when I was a kid. Now, it feels very much like home; and always will.
Thank you for an amazing performance last night, NOPO.
Photo: (Conductor, Max Valdes and I after the performance)
