I got my stage legs back yesterday… With a hitch.

Like most middle-age people, I have my own set of health issues. I have erratic blood sugar levels, and every once in a while they get the best of me. Night before last, we had a severe storm and power outage here in Clarksville, the result being neither myself or the fur kid got any sleep. Now I can tolerate most anything, but losing an entire night’s sleep does me in every single time. Nevertheless, I really wanted to play this once a month open mic at my new favorite brewery. I walked in perky as hell and ready to jam. By the time it was my turn on stage I was walking death, But! But! But! I got on stage anyway.

I had a miracle. My voice may have been puny, but I made it through all three stories and all three songs without missing a beat. I got through all my words, I got through all my chords and 98% of my picking. Watched my audience enjoy every word and heard the heartfelt applause at the end when I said, thank you. And then I stepped off the stage, stumbled and almost passed out because my blood sugar crashed hard.

​The 10 minute drive home was a blur. I stumbled in the house glancing at Deke’s food station to make sure he still had food and water and collapsed into bed. Felt him snuggle into my still clothed body and didn’t wake up again until he was barking at me and dancing with a full bladder.

Every experience, good or bad carries a lesson. This one told me that I can’t keep running on empty and keep myself safe. There is a new addition to the gig bag, a good quality energy bar, because even though I had a sandwich and fries at the brewery this time it clearly was not enough or maybe not nutritious enough. BTW, Evill Nash makes a bomb Porkster sandwich but I’m still gonna make sure that I have a good protein bar to carry me through the tough times.