Nashville TN Saturday Aug 9, 2003

By this point in tour we were so tired we were hallucinating, Mike and I. We had low expectations for the Nashville gig, and when we first got to the venue there was nothing to change them. The backstage area was painted a glossy brown, and there was not even a cushion for our bottoms to sit on. The venue manager said he was waiting for us to get there before he went out and bought the rider so there was nothing to eat. (Everybody knows by now how I feel about that.)

So I was hanging around the back door, looking at the sky and the setting sun, when the venue manager came over and said casually, “Al and Tipper called and they are coming down tonight with some friends.” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Al? And Tipper? Gore?” I said stupidly, as though I knew of some other couple named Al and Tipper, and maybe it was them.

“Yes, they come here quite a bit, actually.” I couldn’t believe it. I thought maybe he was joking? But I squinted at him and decided he was not. Wow. I went back to the hotel and changed into my “good” suit jacket.

I had so many memories and things I wanted to tell both of them. “I voted for you in the last election and I think your introductions to the Rachel Carson books are really cool!” Maybe Tipper remembered my book that I had sent to her! Somehow she was part of the Principal for a Day program in New York City a few years ago and she couldn’t make it, so they called me instead. Don’t know what made anybody think of that but I was happy to do it, and I sent her a copy of the Passionate Eye and received a nice handwritten note back.

They all came in before the show, a whole bunch of Democrats in summer whites. I was thrilled to meet the two of them, and they had brought a bunch of friends. I think Al had had a couple of drinks as he seemed slightly tipsy which was charming, and he was not at all stiff or wooden as he can sometimes be on TV. He and Tipper exchanged a ribald joke about “exchanging DNA” which made Tipper go pink in the cheeks.

I blurted out every time I had seen them or thought about them over the last five years. “Do you remember when I sent you my book? I got a nice note from you back!” I shouted at Tipper who looked vaguely bewildered, like she was wondering what I was talking about. Then it was picture time and Tipper went scurrying off to get her cardigan, (she had a sleeveless shell on and I guess she didn’t want her arms photographed!) and if you see the picture you will see what a pro she is, her body is turned at a three quarter angle. Whereas I am full frontal as usual.




The show was really good. They went off and sat in special seats on a balcony. At around the fourth song I couldn’t see them any more and I whispered this to Mike. “No they are still there, they have just moved back,” he said. But I still couldn’t see them and so we just carried on as usual.

Mike started getting really weird during “Solitaire”. He had brought a “Slippery When Wet” sign from the hotel and put in on stage. Then as I recall he took a mop from the wings and mopped the stage. Then I think he sat down, took a swig of water and let it dribble out of his mouth. At this point I scolded him. In front of Al and everything!! Really!!

Afterwards we met Jim (in Music City) and his wife, and that was lovely, after all these years of correspondence. Also saw Franne Lee who did the set for the 1990 tour.


[Next: Red Bank, NJ - August 15, 2003]