One of my biggest struggles has been with music. When Janelle and I started dating, we brought with us such different musical tastes and histories. Music was one of the ways we each learned about the other. The merging of our musical tastes mirrored the merging of our lives. Just as our partnership was a marvel to many that knew us singly, our combined musical library became a marvel, and a symbol, to us. Many of our very best times were at live music events, from the Austin City Limits Festival to the American Folk Festival.

Since her loss, music has not brought me the joy I have felt much of my life. It seems that having given up sole ownership, I was unable to reclaim the pleasure of music on my own. While on the road, I bought a great set of old CD’s in Daytona and loaded them into iTunes. They’re OK. I went to see David Bromberg live this Spring. I sat by myself and cried, leaving early. The music that played constantly in the condo has been an off and on occurrence. While most parts of my life began to return to a new normalcy, music chose to hold out. It was with significant reservations that I bought a ticket to hear Kris Delmhorst play on September 8th at a small venue outside Boxborough, Massachusetts. I almost backed out at the last minute. It was a long drive. Hotels are expensive. I’m not even sure I like her recent recordings. Et cetera.

I am so glad I went. I feel reconnected. Janelle was with me the whole night, but I was able to revel in the music for the first time, without being able to turn and smile at her. I just smiled for me, knowing how pleased she would have been. Though maybe she would have had the same tinge of sadness as I did. But the sadness just added to the joy, if that makes sense. The venue, Fruitlands Museum was a beautiful setting, as shown above. There were 88 seats total. Kris Delmhorst was amazing. Her accompanist, Kevin Barry, was superb. I knew none of the material, other than her closing song. It was all fresh and new. Perhaps one reason I was able to stay for the whole thing. I don’t anticipate a spontaneous reconnection with our music collection, or a similarly stellar experience with every live performance. I am encouraged though to keep working at it.

What’s a road trip without good food. I was able to satisfy my hankering for a burrito at an old standby, El Rayo in Scarborough. In Portsmouth, I was led to Moxy by some rewritten Eurythmics lyrics. Moxy is a repeat James Beard semi-finalist and well worth a try. I especially enjoyed the pickled blueberries in the summer salad and the crab fritters.

https://moxyrestaurant.com/moxy-food-menu