1/13/24 Decatur, Texas

Yesterday we did a show in Duncan, Oklahoma. Duncan is a familiar place and usually works its way into my road schedule every 6 months or so. What should’ve been a routine show and easy kick off to the tour was riddled with mishap. I stayed up till 4am the night before hitting the road, playing Madden. I slept in to make up for it and had to rush to get ready to leave. I made fried eggs and cracked one onto the stove instead of the pan. When I tried to scoop it up it slipped down and below the burner. I left so quickly I didn’t notice until I got 30 miles north that I forgot my knife and wallet. The two things that protect me and take care of me, left on the table nest to the case for Madden. Luckily the show was a one nighter and we’re heading back to Austin. Had this been the leg of shows in March I would’ve been without them for 8 days.

Today I’m traveling with a small wad of cash in my pocket. I’m able to pay for my morning coffee and drinks on the road. In an unpredictable way it is extremely freeing. I don’t feel the weight of “needing” to have my identity. There aren’t plastic cards on my person that say my name. No one knows who I am. They don’t need to. If I die on the road drive a stake into the ground, hang my hat on it, and move on. Along with forgetting my wallet, knife, and sanity, I also forgot a hair tie - and it is a windy day on the plains. Jay walking has become a liability with my long hair. I’ve never seen a trucker hat hanging from a cross on the side of the road but someone has to be the first.