September 30 , 2008
Dear friends and fans,
As I write this, the Dow has just tanked, and I choose to remain optimistic. In fact, as soon as I finish this email, I plan to go on the Peet's website and spend some precious amount of my monthly caffeine budget ordering some Lion Mountain Keemun tea. Why am I optimistic? Probably because I have the cutest baby ever born since May 2006 when Lila showed up. My son's name is Johnny (John Patrick Thomas Nields-Duffy, which works perfectly when sung to the tune of "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt") and he is the light of my life, and I am sure, looking into my children's eyes, that there's a better world a'coming. But meanwhile, we adults better get on the stick and be the change we wish to see in the world, as our great uncle Gandhi says.
Also, I get to make music with my sister and our band this month. On Oct 11th, we're doing The GIG OF THE CENTURY!!! this month at Trinity College (okay, the gig of the month, but wow, how cool to be playing with our full band! The last time I performed, I ALSO got to play with a full band. See why I am optimistic?) Sadly, Dave Hower, whom my daughter Lila says reminds her of Cookie Monster, will be celebrating his fifth wedding anniversary, so we will instead be joined by the superlative and stupendous Sturgis who ROCKS! (He played with us at Passim last May.) And Paul Kochanski. And Dave Chalfant. We will be playing in the beautiful Garmany Hall Theater (which is in the Austin Arts Center) previously known as the locale of Katryna's Evita revival. It is part of Trinity's family weekend so there should be lots to do around campus. Bring your families. Bring your voices. Let's raise the roof!
In our house, we love Dave Chalfant. *sigh*.
On Monday Sept. 22, Katryna and her kids were over at our house for dinner. NPR was turned down int he background. All of a sudden, Tom said, "Hey! I think it's the piece they were supposed to do on you guys!" And it was! We listened as our voices and our father's voice filled the kitchen and we danced around the radio. "That's mama on the radio!" we shouted to our kids, who weren't that surprised. (See why I am optimistic?) To hear what we heard, go here.
Then, two days later, Katryna happened to be over again at the same time. This day, the radio wasn't on, but at two minutes to six, the phones started ringing again. Friends from Virginia called to say we were on NPR. Turns out someone wrote in a wonderful letter thanking them for playing us! To hear that piece, go here.
See why I am optimistic?
Plus, it's October. We get to watch two more debates. We get to watch the leaves change color and fall down and our kids will collect them and make collages with them. We get to dress our kids up for Halloween and eat our fill of delicata squash (in fact, this summer we actually grew our own, and it is as sweet as shortbread.) We get to eat honeycrisp apples. No matter how badly the economy tanks, we still get to sing and play the guitar and, if we're lucky, we get to do this with you and see your faces and hear your voices join with ours.
Have I mentioned recently that we have the best fans in the world, and we know it?
Just checking.
Happy October! See you soon!
Love, Nerissa
PS both Rock All Day Rock All Night AND How to Be an Adult are available on Amazon. Let your pals know!
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