Howe’s Tour Journal

the 3rd day of plane travel in spain had me staying there instead another day

it was the first flight i have missed … the flight home .. the brain mush … the little things getting in the way … arriving too late but still 35 minutes before the plane left … no way

so they book us for the next day … so the 4th day of travel commences then instead

a little flu

it hit me on the 9 hour flight back … the last couple hours

not good

then in miami to connect … getting worse… feverish

the plane we boarded there said there would be delays because of bad weather in dallas … and we would have to sit on the plane on the runway in miami

but now i was starting to die … the lady next to me looked afraid she would catch what ever i had

then the captain blurted on the speaker that there was equipment problems and he would be going back to the gate

i took that christmas miracle opportunity to get off (i am an expert now)

i asked for a hotel room … and since i looked so pathetic .. they gave it to me

thoger went on with the plane

i was delivered to the hotel and just sat in the lobby thinking about the strength need to check in

the christmas music will not stop … its everywhere … hotel lobby … airport gates its incessant

then i got my key and crawled up to my room

ahhhhhhhhhhhh h h h h sweet suffering in solitude is much better

i kept waking all night from the fever …

… got up at 4 in the morning to make an early plane … but the clock was wrong .,.. so was really gettin up at 3 … but since i was just in europe in meant really 9 i think

then i could not get out of the room … my brain was gunk … i just stood there befuddling with nothingness … my fever … my brain … my body broke

escaped the room … pushed on

got to the airport and the ordeal of checking in … painful lugging both guitars around

and they will not stop playin that evil christmas music … it is seriously heaving health risks upon me

i get on the plane …but then the captain bvlurts over the speaker again .. he says no go

there is a mechanical problem (again) … so i get on my cell phone and cleverly make a reservation on another flight leaving so i can beat the crowd on because now the captain is deplaning all
the passengers

i run with guitars and fading fever to another gate … its a sold out plane … they give me a middle seat

i get on board and think i cannot stand to be on this plane … feel like i am goin to puke there in the middle seat

i grab both guitars and get off while people are still boarding … impossible you say

but by now people look at me and just stand back

got off the plane and went back to my broken plane where i had a good seat

there was a big line

i crept off to the club for people who fly too much … they treated me like i was checkin into their hospital … i was there poster child

christmas songs playing EVERYWHERE … it was making everything worse

it was hell

i finally got back on my broken plane

they had to replace the nose of the plane

and then flew some hours later to texas and then on to tucson

i went home

i hugged the home

and everything innit

then they let me lay low

nest day woke up better

went to do a national radio interview and did well

then off to school to see the kids plays

then hurried off for a lecture i had to give on this way of life with writer bill carter

that all went well too i think

can’t tell … the lag had wrapped its rag like fog around my brow like the gauze it is

i am healed

and so happy to not smell airplane

so have a happy christmas

get home safe and

sound

hug everything

-howe