Chapter 27 - THE BUS HAIR SPECIAL
After
our concert at Konocti, we re-boarded the bus and spent the
next hour and a half careening through the night, down the
coastal mountain range east toward interstate 5. Once we connected
up to the interstate, we would make a right turn and head
south to San Diego. Of course, this period of time was officially
designated on the "Land Yacht Bar & Deli" as
Happy Hour!
We reached
I-5 at about 2:00 am and still had about another eight hours
of steady driving ahead of us before we would get to Humphrey's.
All the food and drinks we had consumed through happy hour,
coupled with a grueling travel day had the desired affect
of unwinding us. Hopefully, enough to actually get some sleep
in those terrible bouncing bunks. It was now a straight shot
south to San Diego with the monotonous din of a large diesel
engine to lull us to sleep while 'Jeff the Invincible' was
at the wheel listening to AC/DC blasting "Highway to
Hell" in his headphones.
As I climbed
into my assigned cubicle for an attempt at some sleep, I couldn't
help but think of how long ago I first took this same interstate
to Los Angeles and how much had happened over the many years
that I had traveled on this highway. Back in '65, I drove
down to La-La land in my '58 Chevy hardtop, fully loaded with
drums, clothes and a stereo. I thought I had everything a
young bachelor needed to survive in the big city. Whew! Did
I have a lot to learn... but that's another story.
By the
time we were descending into the L.A. basin, everyone was
awake with blood shot eyes and various versions of the latest
styles in 'bus hair,' along with a cup of hot bean drink for
our caffeine kick-start ritual. It was a gorgeous morning
and we had just a couple of hours to go. I was especially
excited because my wife, Michele, was going to meet me at
Humphrey's. It had been over a month since I last saw her
and I was as excited as a 'lifer' at Folsom prison getting
a conjugal visit.
This was
the second time I would be going through L.A., just a few
miles from my house, and once again I would have to be satisfied
with a mobile communication with my wife on the cell phone.
Although, this time I knew it would only be a few more hours
until I could actually be with her so it wasn't quite as difficult
as the last time I called from the "Desert Flyer"
while we were on our way to Redwood City.
We finally
rolled in to Humphrey's at around 11:00 am. and emerged from
the 'Land Yacht' in our public parade of 'bus hair' styles.
I have to admit, after the previous 24 hours we all looked
pretty funky. We did not look like the kind of people you
would want your children to see or associate with as we passed
through the lobby. We were a rather motley looking crew, to
say the least. Fortunately, I had a couple of hours to at
least clean up my act before my wife arrived at the hotel.
I didn't think that a wrinkled, 'slept in,' Santa Monica bum
look would be very presentable.
I was
only an hour or so away from a long awaited reunion with Michele
and two wonderful days together in San Diego. Then we were
going to drive up the coast together for the next concert
in L.A. and I'd get to spend one night in my own home before
the next marathon drive through the land of Roadzilla. But
at the moment, time wasn't moving fast enough to accommodate
my anxiety. It was all at once as bad, and as good, as waiting
for Christmas morning. You know, that kind of feeling.
You know
the country song; "How can I miss you if you won't go
away"? Well, I strongly suggest that for the sake of
your relationship, you try getting away from each other once
in a while. It can't hurt and it just might make you appreciate
your significant other a little more and both of you may be
less likely to take each other for granted. Although I hate
to be away from Michele for weeks at a time, these separations
make our life together just that much sweeter when I return
home after a tour. Parting may be "sweet sorrow"
but on the other hand the reunions are absolutely amazing!
:-)