The Road to Jim Thorpe 12-30-07

In the morning, I was the first one out of bed. I showered and quietly walked downstairs. Being coffee dependent, I longed for a cup to start my day. I tried to watch TV but it hurt my head. I decided to be a good guest and wait for the others rather than take a coffee drive (there didn't seem to be any coffee in the house). I decided to take a walk through the suburbs. As I walked, I could feel the disconnection to nature that suburban living brings. It was a beautiful morning, songbird sunny, yet I was the only walker on the road. I felt lonely but appreciated being on the road and away from my own home routine.



When I returned the house was still quiet. Kristen was showering, so I decided to lay down for a bit. After a few restless minutes I walked downstairs and found Bob and Kelly awake. Wearing the same clothes as the night before, Bob remarked that Kristen and I slept late. I mentioned my morning walk and he went upstairs to change. At this point, I realized that he had been waiting to get into the guest room where he kept his closet. We all make sacrifices for the sake of friendship.



We departed quickly, eager to start the day. Quiet prevailed on the empty New Jersey roads. We stopped at a Starbucks and enjoyed coffee, sandwiches and cake. We reflected on the wonderful show. It was only 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and Kristen and I had a whole day ahead of us. I was a bit tired from the wine but maintained a positive attitude. Bob and Kelly guided us to the Rockaway Mall. In Macy's, we hugged and said good bye. Hugging in Macy's on Sunday morning is a strange way to start the day.



I do not like to go to the mall. But on this morning, the mall was quiet and calm. We pledged that future visits to the mall would take place in the morning. We exchanged some Christmas gifts for things we really needed. We ran into some old friends who we had not seen since summer. At my wedding, Eric asked me to be his best man. He is one of my oldest friends, but we don't see each other very much. At the mall, we didn't have much to say. "We've reached that awkward point", Eric said of the silence. I felt unsettled as I walked away, wishing I had more time to spend with my friends. We bought a couple of books about good health and went on our way. In the parking lot, Bob and Kelly's car was gone. It was time to be on our way to Jim Thorpe.

As we climbed out of New Jersey, crossed the Delaware Water Gap and climbed into the Pocono Mountains, we learned that a winter storm was approaching. Four to six inches of snow was forecast for Jim Thorpe. As we drove under darkening sky and clouds, snow and ice began to fall. Railroad Earth in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylania was sure to be a memorable occasion.

Railroad Earth...Morristown Theater...12-29-07

The scene was outside the theater. The scene is the anticipation and congregation of a sold out show. I have enjoyed live Railroad Earth shows since their beginning in 2001 and the scene is a recent phenomenon. The night was cold, we had our tickets and we shuffled into the the theater.

The lobby was packed to the point where movement was difficult. The Morristown Theater is the type of classy place that does not allow food or beverage in the theater proper. The lobby was packed with fans and friends catching up and enjoying a drink before Railroad Earth hit the stage. Full from dinner, Kristen and I quickly headed to the quiet second floor and balcony. We found our seats and settled into the tranquil theater.

The room pulsed a quiet beauty. Quiet was the theme of the night. We needed to conserve energy to make it through the two night run. We pledged to enjoy drink in moderation and get a good night sleep. The New Riders played first. As mentioned, the theater was mostly empty for their enjoyable set, another sign of RRE's growing popularity. Though the New Riders may be considered legends, this was a RRE show and the real energy was building in the lobby. Appropriately, the best received moment of the New Riders set was the company of Tim Carbone on "Peggy-O". The Riders called it a night after this song. Everyone in the room knew it was time for the headlining act.

Railroad Earth's set began quietly enough with "Everything Comes Together". My wife and I had not heard this song performed live in several years. All of this time, I have wished it to be a show opener. The song took me back to the last time I heard this song live. This was the night when my good friend Nick met his wife at Mexicali Blues in Teanack. At this point, I knew it was going to be a great run of music and friendship.


Railroad Earth played one long set to a packed and ecstatic crowd. The energy in the room propelled me to dance and drink three glasses of red wine and I was feeling fine throughout the night. Since we have supported this band from the beginning, it is wonderful to have witnessed their growth. More importantly, I am humbled by the positive energy that their music creates.

After the show, we found our friends outside the theater. Our friends were all amazed by the performance. I have yet to find anyone that does not love this band. We went back to my cousin's house and went to bed. Positive energy propelled me to do sit-ups and push-ups before bed. I slept healthy and excited and ready for another day.

The Road to Morristown 12-29-07

My wife and I have seen Railroad Earth several times a year since 2001. Though we have seen them throughout the country, we had never seen them on a multiple night run. As a lover of live music, I have heard many accounts of a festive run of music. So in late December, we departed Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, for a two night run through New Jersey and the Poconos.

We left Bloomsburg at noon on December 29 with many goals and expectations. Shopping, exercising and social visits packed our two day agenda. On this Friday, shopping was quickly scrapped due to our later than expected departure. My wife and I are teachers, and hard as we may try, we just cannot resist sleeping in on our days off. The drive from Bloomsburg to our first stop at my father's house in Great Meadows, NJ is about ninety minutes. On this Saturday afternoon, the road was clear, the weather dry and we made the trip in just over an hour. We listened to my Christmas present, Bright Eyes "Motion Sickness". "Road to Joy" played as we passed through the Delaware Water Gap. This is one of my favorite tunes ever and provided great energy to the dawn of this holiday adventure.

Music and social visits involve tasty beverages and food. For this reason, our first stop was for a little exercise at Jenny Jump State Forest. As we strolled on a warm afternoon, I thought back to previous hikes at this location and, as always, I felt very fortunate to have grown up near this great, natural resource. I hoped to see a black bear, but on this day, the bears remained hidden, maybe, in early winter hibernation.

After our hike, we stopped at my father's house for a quick visit. I feel at peace driving through Northwestern New Jersey. It is forested and beautiful. But most of all it is familiar and full of people I know and love. We picked up another Christmas present, my new digital camera accidently left behind on the 25th, freshened up for the night and quickly departed for Morristown.

Over the last couple of years my cousin Bob and his wife Kelly have become some of our closest friends. We have shared Railroad Earth with them and in one year they have seen three shows! The backroads to Morristown were sunset and beautiful. We listened to New Riders of the Purple Sage, the evenings opening act, and Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price "Last of the Breed, our Christmas present from my brother. We enjoyed dinner at a pub within walking distance to the Morristown theater. Expectations were high as we walked upon the sold out theater for our first night of Railroad Earth 2007.