Adventure 817: Day 40/Tucson/2023

It may be our fortieth day in the desert, but we haven't wandered and we certainly haven't suffered. This morning we enjoyed our third delicious breakfast at The Poca Cosa Cafe. We consider it an absolute must while in Tucson, so we treated Ross and Dinah to the experience. Later, we ventured with a crowd to Catalina State Park for a wonderfully soulful Americana music experience as part of the free music in the park series. Today's artists were a duo,  who call themselves Equipata, which translates as the soft patter of rain or the clopping sound of horse hooves on pavers. The leader of the group is really Nancy Elliott, who has inspired her new "friend", Bob, to accompany her on stage. He's only recently taken up the guitar, which shows you the motivational power of love. Together, they covered Willie Nelson songs, Jimmie Rogers songs, Merle Haggard songs, a few cowboy ballads, and one gospel song. Then Nancy sang her own original material for a good part of the show. Below are a few of the notes I took. They amount to a flavor of my impressions:

One line from a Jimmie Rogers train song...a thousand miles away from home just waiting for a train.

Another...If you don't want me momma you don't have to stall, cuz I can get more women than a passenger train can haul..

And in her cream and whisky voice, Nancy sang one of her original songs called A Cold, Cold Night in Nashville, a story about a discarded singer standing beside a country road in the misty rain some ways away from Nashville. She was picked up by a guy in a passing car. She took off her wet socks; he turned up the heater. Some time later she spoke, "Thanks". She then spent the next few hours listening to his stories and his dreams. He was headed for Nashville. After a while they found a bottle and a room and took up refuge there. The next morning she was gone, and he said, "I didn't even kiss her; hell, I never even touched her; I don't even know her name."

Then Nancy says, I always sing at least one Gospel song....I  come to the garden alone...and he walked with me and he talked with me and he told me I was his all... and the joy we shared as we tarried  there none other has ever known....

And then a song about the hard love of two souls who scrape against each other like jalopies in a demotion derby: the song was about the bramble and the rose, how they were entwined and how they existed despite the pain.

It got me to thinking about my Hunny Bunny: Our relationship is more like the cactus wren and the saguaro--one provides the shelter while the other eats the bugs.

Mostly, as the silken vibrato of Nancy's voice floated over me with love songs warm and sad, I realized few things are certain and  that no one is promised tomorrow, but more importantly, that life is good, especially today.

Once again, Judy and I shared the surprise plate.

Nancy's lighter songs elicited some spontaneous joy from Liz.

Most of her songs kept us enthralled, most likely searching our past for those timeless memories of love, unrequited or otherwise.  

This Sassy Lassie likely has some stories to tell.

Ed, Liz, Deb, and I came early to hike. Judy brought Ross and Dinah to the concert later. She managed to find a spot right up front and expertly demonstrated her parallel parking skill.  

After the concert, we broke out the food and enjoyed a nice picnic and and idle chatter.

Selfie of the day: You choose who is the cactus and who is the wren.

We're just faces in the crowd. Everyone attending was held to rapt attention by Nancy's singing and story telling.

Nancy Elliott and Bob (Equipata) Their guiding philosophy-The Heart of It All--Everyone has a story and every story matters.

Ginny Kral, an accomplished musician herself, joining the crowd of enthralled revelers.

David Kral waxing eloquent after the concert.

Dinah and Ginny, two former colleagues, greeting each other. It's been a few years since they've seen each other.

Edwardo, looking fit as "Hiker Boy".

And like all good cowpokes, we rode off into the sunset.