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Hello from afar my friends!
I’m in North Carolina, thinking of all of you in Oregon, Olympia ~ scattered across the country and around the world…Maine, Montreal, New Zealand, Nepal…the list goes on and will keep evolving with this dynamic community of ours *
Having travelled 3,000 miles in “the little Toyota that could” I feel like you’re a long ways away ~ but in reality, it’s just 3 hours difference, and unlike Caldera and the long stretches of highway in Wyoming and Nebraska with no cell phone service whatsoever, the satellites are alive and well in Asheville and surrounding communities : ) I’ve had the chance to touch base with a few people back home and I appreciate all the love you leave in messages ~ I hope to stay connected despite the distance. I’m happy to be in a place that is more conducive for communication and to be taking life a lot slower out here…
Of course, lots of stories and exciting updates from the road, the recording studio, and most recently from Franklin, the little town where I’ve landed for a spell. However! Before the time slips by at my little post here at the library, I want to share what first inspired me to write you ~ scribbled in a ragged notebook over coffee this morning.
Sitting alone here in my little cottage, rain steadily drip drops on the roof and melts the morning while I scribble away and sing another song about the red bird out my window. Then, Old Crow Medicine Show comes on, track 10 ~ We’re All In This Together. I LOVE that song, and it was the longest time before I ever heard it because I’d always skip straight to 11 (take a guess…) aaaaah. So after it plays out, I pick up my guitar and sing Wagon Wheel, a tribute to our friendship, time shared, and the community we created. It’s so interesting now to be alone in this place that was in the heart of our music making… Johnson City is just across the state line, Shana (who I travelled out with) is in Raleigh, Roanoke - the Cumberland Gap, they aren’t just places on a map or romantic stops along a song anymore…Playing Wagon Wheel draws me close to you. It’s a way of bringing our energy back together. I really can’t describe it ~ I can feel us gathered close together in a circle like we do ~ and everybody’s got their instruments, guitar, banjo, and the most beautiful voices brought together singing “Rock me mama like a Wagon Wheel…” I play through a few rounds where Stevo does a fabulous run on the sixstring and Travis picks the banjo like he was born to, and then…slow it down a bit and we’re all back in it together again, singing
“Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke,
I caught a trucker out of Philly had a nice long toke
But he’s heading west FROM the Cumberland gap,
Johnson City, Tennessee
Now I gotta get a move on before the sun,
I hear my baby calling my name and I know that she’s the only one
And If I die in Raleigh at least I will die free ~
Soooo rock me mama like a wagon wheel, rock me mama any way you feel…”
You are truly some of the world’s most beautiful people and I’m grateful to have you in my heart and in music no matter how far apart life takes us. Blessings.
I must be off now.
Take care and keep in touch ~ I hope your toes are tappin : ) Much love from North Carolina * Jenna
