run up to a performance. He knew that Bruce cared deeply about how the group sounded, so it couldn't be lethargy. Bruce explained it to him this way,
“You know that I've done more than my share of bad things to my body.”
Jake nodded. Bruce had been legendary for his drug and alcohol use during his younger days.
Bruce went on. “I almost died more than once. I woke up in a hospital one time thinking that they had taken me in after a drunk the night before. Turns out that I had been unconscious for six days. That wasn't the only time that I lost some days either. To tell you the truth, I've probably polluted this old body enough that I should be dead.
Anyway, I gave that up. I was in in-patient rehab for six months two different times. I spent some time in the county joint once when I fell off the wagon and threw up.”
“There's nothing illegal about throwing up”, Jake said, incredulous.
“They find a way to make it illegal when it's on the shoe of the sheriff,” Bruce answered.
Jake nodded. “Go on.”
“Anyway, I like my world a lot better now. I've got a job I like, playing music for a living. The love of a good woman playing music with me. If I don't know where I am when I wake up tomorrow, it's only going to be because I forgot we're in a different town than we were in yesterday, and not because I'm wasted. Long, ugly story short, my friend: I want to give these people a good show, but it's not the end of the world if we have an off night. It's just show business, man!” he said with a warm smile for Jake.
Jake knew then that he didn't need to worry about Suzi. For all of his rough appearance, Bruce was a solid, stand-up guy who wouldn't hurt his friend.
It also got him to thinking about his own life. He counted his blessings. He didn't know if he could survive without the love of his life, but the great thing was, he knew that he would never have to try. Brandee still excited him in every way imaginable and he couldn't wait to see her every morning. Some mornings, he got up earlier than usual just because he wanted to start another day with her as soon as possible.
***
Brandee absolutely smoked Chico that night! The interactive aspect of the seating arrangement worked perfectly with Brandee's already considerable stage presence. She walked among the crowd, belonging to them and them to her, all night. She put her head on an elderly man's shoulder and sang, “Dream Catcher” to him. That sealed her with the crowd (not to mention sealing her with him.). The adlibbing that had concerned the rest of the group during the afternoon was kept to a minimum and, when it did happen, Brandee was close to, or on, the riser with the others. They were called back onstage for not one but two encores, the second of which brought down the rafters when Bruce and Suzi punctuated it with a long bass and keyboard riff. The group was riding a high when they went out for dinner after the show.
Brandee never ate much before she performed. The bite or two of mandarin oranges and M&M's didn't amount to much. She was always famished post performance. Jake used up a couple thousand calories of nervous energy during the show, just pacing backstage. Diane worked herself into a lather on the drums, and Suzi hadn't eaten since the Chinese food at lunch. Bruce was just always ready for a good meal. Since there was an Applebees between The Big Room and The Californian, they decided to go there.
The noise inside Applebees fit the euphoric mood of Brandee. They ate, talked, and laughed for over 2 hours at the restaurant. Brandee believed that this tour was the beginning of something bigger than she had been involved in before. Jake was hopeful that her dreams would come true and was happy to see her in such a relaxed mood. The others basked in the good feeling, too. Brandee could light up a room with her
“You know that I've done more than my share of bad things to my body.”
Jake nodded. Bruce had been legendary for his drug and alcohol use during his younger days.
Bruce went on. “I almost died more than once. I woke up in a hospital one time thinking that they had taken me in after a drunk the night before. Turns out that I had been unconscious for six days. That wasn't the only time that I lost some days either. To tell you the truth, I've probably polluted this old body enough that I should be dead.
Anyway, I gave that up. I was in in-patient rehab for six months two different times. I spent some time in the county joint once when I fell off the wagon and threw up.”
“There's nothing illegal about throwing up”, Jake said, incredulous.
“They find a way to make it illegal when it's on the shoe of the sheriff,” Bruce answered.
Jake nodded. “Go on.”
“Anyway, I like my world a lot better now. I've got a job I like, playing music for a living. The love of a good woman playing music with me. If I don't know where I am when I wake up tomorrow, it's only going to be because I forgot we're in a different town than we were in yesterday, and not because I'm wasted. Long, ugly story short, my friend: I want to give these people a good show, but it's not the end of the world if we have an off night. It's just show business, man!” he said with a warm smile for Jake.
Jake knew then that he didn't need to worry about Suzi. For all of his rough appearance, Bruce was a solid, stand-up guy who wouldn't hurt his friend.
It also got him to thinking about his own life. He counted his blessings. He didn't know if he could survive without the love of his life, but the great thing was, he knew that he would never have to try. Brandee still excited him in every way imaginable and he couldn't wait to see her every morning. Some mornings, he got up earlier than usual just because he wanted to start another day with her as soon as possible.
***
Brandee absolutely smoked Chico that night! The interactive aspect of the seating arrangement worked perfectly with Brandee's already considerable stage presence. She walked among the crowd, belonging to them and them to her, all night. She put her head on an elderly man's shoulder and sang, “Dream Catcher” to him. That sealed her with the crowd (not to mention sealing her with him.). The adlibbing that had concerned the rest of the group during the afternoon was kept to a minimum and, when it did happen, Brandee was close to, or on, the riser with the others. They were called back onstage for not one but two encores, the second of which brought down the rafters when Bruce and Suzi punctuated it with a long bass and keyboard riff. The group was riding a high when they went out for dinner after the show.
Brandee never ate much before she performed. The bite or two of mandarin oranges and M&M's didn't amount to much. She was always famished post performance. Jake used up a couple thousand calories of nervous energy during the show, just pacing backstage. Diane worked herself into a lather on the drums, and Suzi hadn't eaten since the Chinese food at lunch. Bruce was just always ready for a good meal. Since there was an Applebees between The Big Room and The Californian, they decided to go there.
The noise inside Applebees fit the euphoric mood of Brandee. They ate, talked, and laughed for over 2 hours at the restaurant. Brandee believed that this tour was the beginning of something bigger than she had been involved in before. Jake was hopeful that her dreams would come true and was happy to see her in such a relaxed mood. The others basked in the good feeling, too. Brandee could light up a room with her
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