Our Friday night gig had us back up at the Klippenes Farm, a super-welcoming, sweet little homestead, with animals, a small lake, a cozy guest house, and some of the best humans you’ll ever meet. Rudy always has some amazing animal experiences there.
This baby bunny was rescued from their dog’s mouth (I think). The dog wasn’t trying to kill it, it was just bringing it around.
The pigs are a new addition to the farm, and we loved those big old stinky hams! They felt like our Clementine girl!
Rudy learning how to feed the pigs.
I can’t remember this chicken’s name…so I’ll just call her Miss Sparkle Feathers. She was so sweet and very soft!
Chicks dig us…
Our show was accompanied by the coldest weather we’ve had all summer. I felt so bad for the audience, which was about forty-five people sitting outside, wrapped up in blankets and huddling together for two hours. It was a fun and energetic show to help stave off the wind that decided immediately at downbeat (after a nearly perfect day weather-wise), to take over and fill in the spaces where the sun had vacated, instantly chilling everyone to the core, knocking over planters, our tip jar, and almost our mic stands. I guess it just wanted to party with us!
I am grateful we got to play this show for a few reasons. The first, being that we just love the family who invited us there. If you’ve been following our blog for several years, you might remember our story with them. But if not, I can sum up quickly. Several years back, their whole family was stuck at SeaTac International Airport for an extended stay due to flight delays, etc. They were tired, pissed, and bored. Enter the SeaTac Music program to provide music to just such travelers. Jared and I were scheduled for a shift that morning, so at 9:00 am, the Klippenes family got their first full glass of Champagne Sunday and fell in love. Shane jokes that he was the “creeper” who wrapped his business card in our tip money, with a note inviting us to play at his farm. We’d yet to even go into Montana, but when we decided to, he was one of the first people we called, and the rest is history! We spent a couple Summers visiting the farm but missed last year. It was really lovely to be back.
The other reason I am grateful we got to play the show was due to a testimony I received from one lady who came alone and sat by herself for the entire show. After the gig, I was wrapped up in selling merchandise to several groups of people. I kept acknowledging her because I didn’t want her to feel missed. I finished my last transaction and finally got to her.
“Thank you.” She said, while clutching my hands. Hers were so warm and her sweater was just so soft and perfect, I had to comment.
“Well, thank you for being here, and might I add, you have the best sweater here!”
She laughed and then said again,
“Thank you so much. I almost didn’t come tonight. It is a horrible time for me.”
I didn’t prod, but put my arms around her and just whispered,
“It’s ok. I love you and I am glad you made it.” She looked up at me with big tears in her eyes (then you KNOW I started crying too) and she said,
“This month I recognize the anniversary of my son’s passing, who died nineteen years ago at 28 years old, and my grandson, who also passed recently at 28 years old, and my nephew who just passed. I also left my husband of 33 years recently, and turned 65 this month. I have no idea what I’m going to do but I do know I wanted to come CELEBRATE their lives tonight, and I have to tell you how perfect your music was for all of that. So thank you.”
This is why it is so important to stay present. I could have rushed through the motions of the show, could have hurried fans along afterwards, could have said, “Thanks for coming” but not really taken the time to listen. What a huge loss that would have been for ME! We would have missed out on getting to know this woman who is starting all over right now, and using Champagne Sunday’s music to launch her into that. She is choosing to CELEBRATE the lives she has lost around her, rather than weep for the loss. I know she will still carry pain, but I’m so glad she made this step. And I got to share space with her because I allowed myself to be there…where my feet were.
The rest of the night we got to sit up and visit with our dear friends, and some new ones too, sharing life stories, laughing building each other up, and getting deep into the heart of it all. And you know what? On paper there is no reason we should have anything in common to speak about. We are all very different. Where we come from, what we do, where our politics lean, what religions we are. But none of that even came into play. We talked about love and humanity, helping people, friendship, food, our jobs, pets, kids, funny anecdotes, interesting places, moments of beauty, and so many other things that united us. All the “big” issues were minor details. As we embraced and said our goodnights, I felt it again; that pull to the ground right beneath me. The confirmation of remaining solid WHERE I was and within WHO I was. We were just all human beings, loving each other and supporting our rights to be those human beings. It was all pure joy.
Rudy was super stoked to have a bed in a warm room all to himself and I just love this candid pic of him just sitting, still a kid, just getting ready to play a video game and chill after our show. I know he’s growing…fast, so these little captures are so precious to me.
Caught this near-full moon, peaking through the clouds, bidding us goodnight. Despite the cold I felt creeping into my skin, I was so happy to be defrosting inside, curled up next to my sweetheart, son in the next room, singing along to something in his earbuds. This family was ready to get home, but not before our last show, back in Stevensville to bring the celebration to our friends like only Champagne Sunday can!!
