We did meet at The Rustic Tavern on Saturday evening around 6:00. We hung around the bar having a few drinks and waiting for a large table to open up so that we could all have dinner together. That didn’t happen for a while, so by the time we did sit down we were hungry and happy. There were several conversations going on at the same time and it was an enjoyable, festive occasion, but I was feeling weak and tired. I wolfed down my burger in record time and kind of sat there waiting for everybody else to finish and for the check to come and the back room to empty out so I could start bringing in equipment.
I had a little more gear than the rest of the guys, except for Andy, of course. He has the heaviest and bulkiest of the setups with his drums, and he brought a full set. It took another long while for the back room to clear and I started bringing in equipment. There were differences of opinion between the band and the venue personnel about where we were going to set up, so I had to move my stuff around a bit before we finalized the setup location in the room, and I didn’t think we made the right decision, but was determined to just go along with whatever happened.
It was hard to hide my worsening condition and considering the rareness of the occasion and the love and joy that was flying around, I felt bad about that too. We really didn’t have enough equipment to do a proper job of performing that night. We only had two microphones plugged into my Bose system and we didn’t have a spot at all to plug in Bob’s guitar. There were only a handful of people, most of whom we knew and had known for many years. That made it a lot easier on us, taking off the pressure of having to actually perform, so we could get some rehearsal done. However, we did approach it as a performance and after playing for a few hours we weren’t much closer to being ready for the big show the next day. And I just kept feeling worse and worse.
By midnight, we started breaking it up and I lost no time in breaking down my equipment and loading the car. I was still trying to put on a brave face and have fun with everybody, but I really couldn’t wait to get out of there and get to bed back at the hotel. Donna was also having a great time. She’s known most of those people as long as I have. We did leave soon, though, and got back to the hotel before 1:00 AM. I don’t think we were there more than ten minutes before I was sitting on the floor of the bathroom heaving my guts up into the toilet. Mind you now, I haven’t thrown up in at least 25 years and to the best of my recollection I’ve never had a stomache virus. I sure had something going on that night though and I went through a cycle of throwing up, going back to bed feeling better until my fever went sky high again and I had to return to the bathroom an hour later to throw up again.
This went on for about four hours and I truly wondered where it was all coming from. I couldn’t imagine having anything left in my stomache and the fever was so high that at 4:00 in the morning after not sleeping a wink, I truly doubted that I would be able to function the next day. I did finally stop throwing up, Thank God, and managed to get some sleep but felt like a complete train wreck. It was early in the morning that poor Donna, who had had to endure this appauling spectacle, went out and got me saltine crackers, ginger ale and Maalox.
I was actually able to get on my feet by noon after that treatment. My fever was going down but I was still very tired and weak. There was a rehearsal scheduled at the Ribbon Mill at 1:00 that afternoon and I didn’t think I could make it, but you know the old saying – The Show must go on. I knew I was kind of necessary for the rehearsal and so I rallied and Donna and I did actually get there by 1:00. Things didn’t get going right away and Bob, not having a working cell phone, was not even aware of the rehearsal. We did get a lot done that afternoon, though, and by 4:00 or so we felt a lot more prepared for the evening. I’m sure they all felt bad that I’d had such a difficult night, but there was just too much going on for anyone but me, and Donna of course, to worry about it.
So we had a few hours to rest before the show which was scheduled to start around 6:00 PM. I continued to survive on Maalox, crackers and ginger ale while the rest of the band tuned themselves up for the show.
I can’t seem to find any of the pics from the show, but I do have this link to a video of RD1 doing John Hynes’ RIPLA at the Ribbon Mill. It was shot by Bob’s wife, Nancy, and it turned out pretty well. Enjoy.
Recent Comments