The healing journey of a widowed, unschooling badass in Delaware.
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to teach our children how to change a tire. It wasn’t part of a life skills curriculum or plan, it just happened.
Last night, the car they were riding in got a flat. Without hesitation they got to work and resolved the problem without adult guidance.
World of Chaos is playing at Round Guys Brewing Company tonight. One of the founders of the brewery is an old friend.
Scott Rudich DJ’d at our wedding 17 years ago and, a few years later, Mary had to turn down his garage-brewed beers at a Cake concert because we had just learned that she was pregnant with Isaac.
It’s wild to now be sitting in this restaurant waiting for Westen to take the stage. Mary would love where music has carried her boys.
Holy crap, this would be awesome!
Mary and I discovered the Drops in 2011, or thereabouts, and got tickets to see them at The Queen in early 2012. Hoots & Hellmouth was added to the lineup and it was an unforgettable night. Between sets, mama Mary almost got me into a fight when we observed a young child without ear protection who clearly didn’t want to be there. We had to sacrifice a sweet spot in the pit to diffuse the situation, but still shook our backsides off to CCD (the little bit ‘o ass that Hoots left us to shake).
We saw the Carolina Chocolate Drops as a family in June of that year at the Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival. Westen was taken with their energy and we saw Rhiannon being a sweet mom at one of the kids activity tents.
Mary and I saw them at the Grand on one of our rare dates in 2013. The audience was the worst of the public radio crowd and wouldn’t get off their butts. Mary and I had amazing seats, but scooted into the wings to dance and not block anyone’s view. Unbeknownst to us, WHYY was filming the show and we saw ourselves months later on TV.
After Mary passed away, it was a special honor to take the boys to see Rhiannon Giddens in 2018 at Delfest. It was the first time they got to stay up for a proper headliner and Giddens served up a captivating performance. It wouldn’t be the last time I cried that weekend.
In 2022, Kristen and I took our kids to the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Local heroes, The Honey Badgers, were our big draw that year, but we also got to see Dom Flemons…twice. Few artists have the depth of talent and knowledge and personability that he does. He is an American treasure.
CCD hits deep in this family.
We had an exciting night in Kennett Square seeing Cat Ridgeway at the Kennet Flash.
Ridgeway rocked the stage and was so sweet afterward. She remembered us from the Philly Folk Festival two years ago and chatted with us for a while.
She signed Isaac’s CD and just might be considering a tattoo.
We also got to see the promotional poster for Westen’s upcoming gig on the wall of the venue.
This event has grown by a factor of five since we last visited in 2019.
We haven’t camped much since opening the studio and moving in together.
This is my favorite time of year to camp and we’re taking advantage, now with a weekend in New Jersey.
Things got weird at Bourbon & Beyond.
-Embarrassed Children
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I love meeting new people and finding connections, but moreover, I LOVE embarrassing my kids. They hate it when I hand out random information or try to help strangers find their way. Earlier in the day, I ran across a parking lot to compliment a gentleman on his Lego t-shirt in the style of Van Gogh’s self portrait.
While relaxing on the field between sets at Bourbon & Beyond, I noticed the guy behind us wearing an Offspring Smash t-shirt.
I leaned back and said, “That’s really cool, my first concert was when they toured on that album in ’94.” He replied, “Ha, I saw them in 2018.”
“Oh my God, you’re such a boomer!”
I think it was Kristen’s daughter’s words, but my boys agreed with exasperated teen noises.
I live for these moments. I’m close to three decades worth of concerts under my belt and I still get the rush of emotion to my skin when magic hits the stage. I still dance like I want to and holler like a fool when a band breaks out a surprising cover or solo.
Soon, these kids will be going to shows without me. I’m thrilled for their growing freedom, but I’m going to take advatage of every chance I get to make them red-faced before that happens!
