Sometimes you don't have to travel far...

Sometimes you don't have to travel far to find inspiration. Tonight, my husband and I only traveled from our northwest Tucson home to the Diamond Center in south Tucson for the David Sanborn/Al Jarreau concert. And you know what? When Al stepped up on stage, I felt myself taking a walk back through the better part of my life.

I remember how I first heard his song, "After All," when I was a student at Clemson and thinking his voice sounds incredible, I sure hope he produces more music. One time when I had a few too many (and the perfect man was no where to be found), I was listening to that song and either the volume (or my backup singing) was so loud, the police showed up at my door - oops.

Years later, I saw Al's Tenderness CD on sale in a Bangkok marketplace and bought it. My husband at that time and I listened to it in the car and later a colleague played the entire album for us on his high tech sound system. I remember hearing the song "You Don't See Me" and thinking of the man I called husband. He didn't know me at all.

I bought Heaven and Earth while I was living in southern Peru. I listened to those songs when hiking the Inca Trail and mountain biking through Colca Canyon and hanging out in my living room writing thoughts on a yellow pad. And I imagined a man who would understand me the way my husband didn't and ended up falling in love with the Peruvian landscape. And when I came back to the United States, I eventually left the man who had never understood me anyway behind and met a stranger "I met along the way," as the Moonlighting theme goes.

No matter what year it has been, no matter where I have been, I have heard Al Jarreau's happy voice singing to me, inspiring me, lifting me from the darker moments, making me feel brighter, like life should be more of a celebration than a chore. And when he walks out on that stage, his face is radiant, his smile broad and you can feel the magic of his energy. I can't think of another performer who has been on tour and producing great music for almost 40 years. His songs of love that were once a romantic dream are now a promise fulfilled that I enjoyed tremendously tonight with a man who understands. Thank you so much Al Jarreau for your uplifting beautiful concert and thank you so much Chris for taking me and being there to enjoy the moment!

Where Are You Going This Summer?

As the lazy days of summer are approaching, many of us have vacations on our mind. In 10 days, I'll be enjoying a week of sand and the sea in Oceanside, CA with my family. Even if the June gloom sets in, I won't mind wearing that sweatshirt over my bikini since I find clouds and cool weather to be a welcome relief from the incessant sun and heat this time of year in Tucson.

My 19-year-old step son will probably be surfing, my 15-year old daughter and her friend will probably giggling whenever cute boys walk by and my 13-year old son will be building imaginary battlefields and military fortresses out of sand. And what will my husband and I be doing? My husband will likely be reading a computer magazine and I will be boogy boarding or swimming in the ocean or lounging on my towel and typing away on my Alphasmart (Oh how I love that device. I can do "work" in the most pleasant of settings). And if you're wondering if whenever I'm in the water, I ever think of Jaws, the answer is "yes," but to me, life is just too short not to enjoy every possible moment in the ocean. I can almost hear the waves crashing against the sand now.