Closing Show

It's nice sometimes just to sit and marvel at the beauty of the world. I'm not a particularly religious person, but if anything could provide spiritual contentment in this crazy society of ours, certainly the unspoiled grandeur of nature is up to the task. Despite humanity's best efforts to ruin it.

Today is the closing show of Mamma Mia at the Vallejo high school I've been playing at this week. I'm here quite early in town, on purpose, to enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch in Benicia State Park. A place I've never been before.

It's been great to have an excuse to pull out the Ibanez bass guitar and play again. Though it's been a whirlwind of a week. One rehearsal run through and then opening night. And it's not the easiest of musical books either. Doubly so if you haven't touched your instrument in a couple years. Yes, a second rehearsal would have been quite beneficial. Despite the tiresome drive of 60 miles one way to get here. But it is what it is.

It's been fun, as it's fun music to play, and just in general fun to BE playing again. Even if it's just a small-time high school production. There was a time when I'd do 4 shows a year. Or 5. Or 6. And they were all four-weekend runs. Generally a dozen performances per show. But those days are past, just a distant memory now. Some of those companies don't even exist anymore, most notably Runaway Stage Productions, whom I played and directed with a lot. Now just having one week of a show, for me, is a rare treat.

So it will be bittersweet today as we close out the run with our fourth performance, and our first and only matinee. And even though it's 'just' a high school production staged in their cafetorium, it's been rewarding for me. Seeing that I CAN in fact still play, still be a valuable asset to a show. So I'll miss this one. Though I won't miss the commute.

How long will it be till I play again? Who knows, who knows.