My Latest Thoughts on the Music/Record Industry
May 31, 2007
Sara Hickman
Championing the Indie Spirit
interviewed by Diane Gershuny
Sara Hickman celebrated a milestone in 2007: 18 years of making a living at making music. Whether it's as a solo artist creating music for adults or children (including the 2-disc, 3-woman side project collaboration from the mid-90s entitled Domestic Science Club), Sara has succeeded in this dog-eat-artist world perhaps from her tenacity, talent and DIY spirit.
Armed with a BA of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas in Denton, she opted to pursue her dream of becoming a recording artist in addition to that of a fine artist. Her first foray into the world of labels happened through Windham Hill Records, when Will Ackerman courted her for a compilation CD over her song "Salvador", an ode to the artist Dali. Her first self-created solo outing, Equal Scary People, landed her accolades and a deal with Elektra Records, which licensed and reissued the record. Next came Shortstop in 1990, followed by Necessary Angels. Although Sara had toured extensively and worked hard at promoting her music, Elektra decided to shelve the project and drop Angels. Fans came to her aid and raised almost $50,000 to buy the album back, which was eventually released on another Warner/Elektra/Atlantic label, Discovery, ironically started by the very founder of Elektra, Jac Holzman.
By 1997, Hickman had released three discs on Shanachie Records: Misfits, a licensed collection of odds and ends, the Adrian Belew-produced Two Kinds of Laughter in 1998, and Spiritual Appliances in 2000. She also has released numerous limited-edition discs on her own Sleeveless label, including This Christmas Wish, Faithful Heart (in collaboration with Strings Attached), a live CD Ready to Pop, and a slew of award winning children's albums Newborn (1999), Toddler (2001), and Big Kid (2003). Last year, saw the release of Motherlode, a two-disc compilation of songs concerned with the issues of womenkind.
Sara's multi-faceted interests range from community issues to music, and she is not one to shy away from using her time and talent to get involved and to help others. Her outreach work and concerts are dedicated to numerous charities, addressing issues such as child abuse, breast cancer research, AIDS, illiteracy, and the homeless. She has been awarded the prestigious Humana Women Helping Women award for her contributions to such organizations as Safe Place, Habitat for Humanity, House the Homeless, the SPCA, the Race for the Cure, and many other animal and human rights organizations, including the Tanner Romanian Mission (which adopts Romanian orphans and gives them a lifelong, loving home in their native land).
We caught up with Sara in between shows in California to tap her (very opinionated) views on the state of the recording industry today.
So, what IS the state of the industry as you see it?
The recording industry is in great flux. Major labels still have the bulk of monies to expend on production/publicity, but the Internet and home recording processes have changed the capacity for anyone to be a part of the music industry. Blogging, e-newsletters, Myspace.com, CD Baby, theconnextion.com, and file-sharing make it easy for people to reveal their creations and to build an audience and/or fan base. You also have Taxi and Music Supervisor pitching to television and film, so where it used to be an elitist industry (serving only those who had major label deals and connections), now anyone can have a chance just by working hard... Oh, but still having good music!
How has the role of the producer/engineer changed in the past few years?
I think you are asking two separate questions. Producers have changed in that there are still the big names that are hard to get in bed with unless you have the bucks or the major label backing. But there are more and more talented people taking risks on unknowns and helping them build great productions around their music—a lot of younger producers who are musicians, themselves.
As far as engineers, yes, there are still big name engineers. But so many people can make home recordings or go to a smaller studio on a budget and create great stuff. Accessibility has replaced inability to get in the door.
With DIY recording capability, will producers become obsolete?
No. People will always want the help of others with more experience and wacky ideas!
How has your role changed in the eyes of labels? Artists?
My role in the eyes of labels and artists... hmm! That is a funny question. I'd like to think I've been in people's line of sight, but who can say!?
I have not been with a label in almost ten years, and am truly enjoying working really hard on behalf of my creations. I have all the freedom I could want, and I can hire independent promoters, publicists, etc., to help upon release. I have an in-house group of dedicated assistants that help with daily agendas (mailings, phone calls, emails, setting up appointments, bookings, etc). So, my role in the eyes of labels has probably been forgotten, as I'm not someone they ever have to deal with as an artist or businessperson (unless I am licensing something to another label, which does happen on occasion).
As far as my role in the eyes of other artists, I feel I have accrued the respect and support of my fellow musicians. I think a lot of them understand how hard I have been working the last 17 years, on and off labels, and many of them are in the same position I am in… they are all working on their own projects through their own labels, too! So, it is good to know we can call each other and be able to utilize feedback, consideration for a project or have support of one another in co-writing or performing. And we don't have to go through labels for permission (except our own).
How would you define the Record Industry vs. The Music Industry?
The ‘record industry’ is quickly becoming the ‘download industry’. I believe in the next few years, CDs will be a thing of the past. Certain aspects of my packaging, and for some artists ALL their packaging/songs, is available on the website. Anyone can download a song and keep it on their iPod or in their computer. I think the recording industry made some major faux pas' in their fight against Napster, and they are scrambling to make up for it. On the other hand, I do think that protections need to stay in place on behalf of songwriters, composers, arrangers and artists, so having the recording industry (including the Recording Academy/NARAS) work hard with and lobby Congress to protect rights is very crucial. It is hard to create change with one voice, but a large group of concerned artists can make sure we are receiving our fair share of a multi-billion dollar business.
The music industry… Well, it used to be that A&R (artist & repertoire) folks really knew, and loved, music. They lived and breathed and cared about the acts they signed. They fought for them within the labels. With the decline of career artist labels (like Elektra and Capitol) and the lack of educated A&R, you will see more and more artists becoming savvier and savvier on what they need to accomplish because the onus is on them (and/or their management, if they have management).
I have already seen the changes on the panels I have been on the last 17 years. From general questions of "how do I get signed?" in 1990 to the very specific marketing and production questions I get now. Acts want to protect themselves, make a living, and make the kind of music they want to make. But the music industry is more than labels and A&R. It is also publishers, publicists, radio, marketing, TV, film, writers, arrangers, Web designers, management, personal assistants, booking agents, artists, and fashion.... There are a lot of careers within the music industry that would take a long time to chat about here.
Are their interests in conflict or compatible?
Well, the recording industry has always seemed to me to be about the labels, not the artists. And with that said, I should say it has always been about the CEOs and their unbalanced, grandiose share of the monies the artist’s create. That is why good management (and/or a great lawyer) is so important. Checks and balances, if you are an artist that can create major sales, are crucial to surviving and making money off your music. The music industry is about money, too. Everyone wants the hot thing, the new sound. With this said, I think in this way they are compatible.
However, with the rise of a variety of artists becoming more sophisticated and accessible (meaning any artist), here is where the conflict is coming into play. A great example would be Bonnie Raitt, standing up for blues musicians who had been taken advantage of [The Blues Foundation]. As an artist who is very successful, standing up for the rights of others who were cheated out of incomes.... this is an artist who took the time to educate herself on behalf of musicians she loved and cared about. I think more musicians want to be able to take care of themselves, now and long-term, by protecting their interests and understanding what they are signing.
I also think the music industry is changing, along with the record industry, finding new ways to accommodate artists and their fresh approaches to business. There’s lots of licensing (instead of ownership of the masters in perpetuity) and a lot more creative joint ventures. Artists are starting to have more power, in some ways, by being educated.
That said, you have to also look at empires like MTV who will want to use an artist's song and not pay them anything because they are "trading" airtime that the artist wouldn't normally get. I think artists have to be brave and unite. They have to say, "No, my art is worth something, especially in the face of your garnering millions in advertising. Please pay me fairly."
What changes (technological, societal, etc.) have had the most positive impact/most negative impact on your business? On the industry at large?
Most Positive: full production via local/national businesses that I work with and pay independently, i.e. I can arrange, record, master, package, and duplicate on my own, and in the process, I am helping other musicians/engineers/businesses thrive by utilizing their services. And I own my masters! So, I can license to film/TV and actually make money, or create more copies of CDs when I need more at shows/for Internet sales without a lot of headache and begging from a label. The wonderful acceptance by society that an artist can be talented and worthy and NOT be on a major label.
Negative Impact on my business: People who rip and burn and I don't receive a cent of my hard work. That hurts me financially. But, what I find is a majority of people WANT to support me in my endeavors and will pay full price to me because they want me to keep making music. The consumers, by and large, are more educated nowadays, as well.
What have you done specifically to adapt?
Returned to being an independent in 1998 and relying on the Internet, word of mouth, independent publicists, live shows.
Will record labels become obsolete?
Hmm. Probably. They already are! They are all being eaten up by Germany and Japan. WEA is the only American conglomerate left, I believe.
As royalty rates are being examined do you think producers should also receive royalty payments?
No, not any more. I think they should be paid for their time and compensated for their ideas. That can be arranged ahead of time, contractually, between artist and producer. Look at it this way: many musicians play on an artist's album, and none of them get "points" like producers do. And they bring a lot to the table, sometimes coming up with an instrumental hook or cool sound that would not have existed without their input. Also, engineers who work tirelessly, and generally thanklessly, generally don't get points.
I think it is ESPECIALLY disparaging that an artist who produces themselves when they are on ANY label like I was (major and larger indie) NEVER got paid for my time to self-produce. Nor did I get points. Maybe my bad, but it is my understanding that this is the standard in the industry.
On a scale from 1-5 (1 being the most important) please rate the following impact on the success of a release:
I will replace "Producer" with "Production". I think that the finished production of a CD is the #1 selling point. When you first hear a song on the Internet/radio/CD, the thing that affects a listener the most is how it makes you FEEL. That is what great production is all about, so I credit the producer/engineer first and foremost. You can have the most ridiculous song, a simple song, a song that is formulaic or base, but if the production rocks, emotes, moves the listener... you have a winner. (On the other hand, there are great songs out there that were destroyed by a bad singer, bad arrangements, overkill with reverb, etc. All production woes.)
#1 Producer/Engineer/Band
(Think U2, REM, Joni Mitchell, Motown, Weird Al Yankovic, Randy Newman, Norah Jones, Dixie Chicks—all great production values that ENHANCE the songs)
#2 Songwriter
#3 Promotion
#4 Singer
#5 Distribution
#6 Label
For more information on Sara Hickman, go to: http://www.sarahickman.com
Diane Gershuny is a freelance writer and publicist who has written about music and musicians, instruments and pro audio for over 20 years. Diane worked for some of the top MI/Pro Audio companies in the world, including Fender, Mackie Designs and TASCAM. Diane also has experience with event logistics and artist relations. She can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
posted by Sara Hickman at 07:16 pm
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Family Vacations in an RV: Some helpful hints
May 30, 2007
We are the kind of family that does NOT take a DVD player on any of our trips. "Oh, sure!" you're saying to yourself, "That Hickman. She is a LIAR!" But, no, I am not. Let me tell you what we do on our family trips that helps us all have fun and create memories. After all, isn't that what taking a family trip is all about? Building memories? (Oh, and learning how to balance your sanity at the same time?)
5) Take a recording device with you...tape recorder, digital recorder, video recorder, whatever you want. Not only can you make homemade movies at every historic marker, but you can create theme songs, record three part harmony versions of "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall", and most importantly, capture those moments where the kids swear they'll help with laundry, so when they deny it, you just hit playback.
4) Have the kids bring journals, and have them document their thoughts and feelings. Have them draw what they see. Have them
write about the hot dog that fell behind the cushions on the slide-out that no one discovered until two weeks in the trip and every one thought Mom had a bad case of B.O.
3) Bring lots of art supplies--cardstock, tape, markers, crayons, scissors. And a list of addresses. Then, have the kids make homemade postcards. They can tape leaves and tadpoles on the front of the cardstock! They can use their muddy fingers and draw! They can create beautiful art to send to friends and family telling them all about the Washington Monument and how daddy couldn't find a place to park the R.V. and got a ticket. Then they can draw a picture of a red daddy hopping up and down with an officer in the background rolling his blue, blue eyes.
2) Have a day where you and the kids create snacks in the tiny R.V. kitchen. Trail mix, granola, homemade peanut butter or ice cream.
Share with the neighbors in the R.V. park in baggies decorated with ribbon (see art supplies #3). Include a handmade invite that announces that evening's ice cream social in front of your R.V.! Have the kids run back to the kitchen and make 2,000 tons of chocolate chip ice cream.
1) Take guitars and ukeleles and maracas. These are good to have around the campfire. Bring sing-a-long sheets, songbooks. There are a lot of song ideas available on the internet. But keep these things locked up on the drive so you do not have to hear "Wild Thing" 12 bah-zillion times. Remember, that is family time. When you are driving, it's a good time to be having conversations about important things kids like to talk about. Dead bugs, when you're going to get to the next place (good opportunity for math problems! 17 hours x 5247 miles= what kids?), how barfy that boy in Ms. Whozit's math class was, who's going to do the laundry. You know, the stuff of memories.
If, after following my advice, you still need more ideas for a family trip in the R.V., feel free to ask me about the other 5. But be forewarned: they include tips for making gas money to fill the very expensive tank and fun things to do with your R.V. at Halloween. Spooky stuff!
WHOO-HOO! BLOG BONUS IDEAS FROM MOI, SARA HICKMAN:
* Make up a song...someone starts with the first verse, and then someone else has to make up the second verse, and then someone else makes up the chorus, etc. This can get wacky and silly. And, most of the time, ends up in four part harmony. One time, Lily (my 10 year old) and I ended up singing about trees for 40 minutes. I am not kidding. Our "Ode to the Arbol" became an operatically embellished free for all!
* MAD LIBS! We loooooooooooooove to play Mad Libs. Plus, the kids are learning what the differences are between adjectives, nouns, verbs and adverbs, and then have great fun reading back the stories to us in hilarious voices.
* I SPY with my little eye... this usually works best at Rest Stops!
* I talked about journaling, but I didn't talk about our family journal. Everyone gets to add to the family journal. We have been keeping one since my youngest was born (we wrote on her behalf). So we are all putting our thoughts, family meetings, travels, etc in one wonderful book that grows more and more sacred with journeys!
* We let the kids sit in the driver's seats (no key) and pretend to drive US, mom and dad, to wherever they want to take us in their imagination. This can have a very relaxing effect on the entire family, cuz the kids get to feel like they are in charge, and my husband and I get to sit in the big seats in back and relax for a bit! (Of course, we get to ask, "Are we there yet?" and act up, if we want to! Role reversals all around!)
* Take card games...we LOVE to play "Slapjack" (cards that look like pancakes), and we play "Go Fish" or"Crazy Eights"
* We have also played "Worse Case Scenario", a card game where you read a problem, like:
"You've fallen into quicksand... do you a) flail your arms and try to "swim" across the quicksand, b) lie perfectly still and try to make a cross shape with your body on top of the quicksand, c) imagine yourself as heavy as a stone, or d) hope Donald Rumsfeld doesn't find you."
These cards can lead to very interesting conversations while learning what to do in real life problems.
* Take a roll up net, volleyball and badminton racquets/birdie to play volleyball and/or badminton...gets out a lot of energy.
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:40 pm
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Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty
I recognize that the death penalty is one of the most intense problems we have as a nation, and most particularly, in the state of Texas.
When the Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty approached me about helping them increase their visibility, I made a suggestion of a statewide dialogue. Thus, "Music For Life" was born.
I have agreed to perform a 12 month tour across the state of Texas to help increase awareness about the death penalty as well as raise funds for TCADP. The year long tour is called “Music For Life” and will begin October 3 in Austin at the First United Methodist Church, across from the state capitol. Once a month, during the tour, I will visit a different city in Texas, and plan to be joined by other performers as well as individuals who will provide their personal thoughts about the death penalty.
In addition to Austin , the “Music for Life” tour will also appear in: Dallas , Ft Worth, San Antonio , Corpus Christi , Houston , San Angelo , El Paso , Huntsville , Lubbock , and Bryan/College Station. The schedule is being developed right now and I will let you know when it is completed.
We have several ideas to highlight the tour and provide maximum exposure for it. These include such things as commemorative posters, commemorative wrist bands, creation of a tour DVD that will be available for purchase at the end of the tour, and commemorative T-shirts. We see this as a great opportunity to make more people aware of the death penalty in the state of Texas as well as an opportunity to support TCADP.
In an endeavor such as this, we also need help. In particular, if you have talents in creating DVDs, we can use your expertise. We need someone to volunteer to film in each city because we want to have a one hour DVD by the end of the tour that shows people talking about their various feelings concerning the death penalty---against, for, confused, whatever...we just want to get people talking, to start the dialogue! We also will need help in promoting the tour across the state, so if you have experience and knowledge about advertising or are working in the media industry, we need you! Or, if you just want to volunteer or get involved, please call (512-258-6480), or send an email. We can use your talents!
We are open to any ideas or thoughts as to how we can take maximum advantage of this great opportunity. Please contact Bob Van Steenburg, Vice President of TCADP, at 512-258-6480, or you can email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Thank you, and come join the discussion.
Sara
posted by Sara Hickman at 06:33 pm
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A Treehouse, Don Quixote, Mud (Kerrville!), Children Galore and Magical Tears
The Treehouse Concert at the lovely home of Greg and Juliet was, indeed, like being in a treehouse...a groovy wooden house, built in the seventies, with odd twists and turns, hidden among shady trees. After a delightful dinner of fresh salmon, cous cous and salad, I popped back up the stairs, decorated with M.C.Escher prints, and wrote out my set list, la-la-laing to warm up on little Sonoma's baby Taylor guitar. The window was opened, and I could hear the birds pitching in as the wind kissed my cheek. Gotta love California!
The turnout was smaller than expected, but I sang my heart out, and, on occassion, everyone sang along. The room is cozily carpeted, with an old fashioned iron fireplace embedded in the wall to my right, and bay windows to my left which include a cozy built in window seat, about seven feet long, shaped like the letter "L". Everyone sat in folding chairs, which were all signed on back by the artists who have performed there....Cliff Eberhardt to Michael "Etch a Sketch"
to countless others....later, when the show was over, and everyone had gone home, I got to decorate the back of a chair while being recorded for a pod cast. I was excited to have a variety of sharpie markers to choose from, drawing and simultaneously answering questions about music, life, parenting, art, hopes and dreams...I think you can hear the podcast at http://www.treehouseconcerts.org, if you want to hear what we chatted about.
The day had been very relaxing...Gene had driven me to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium (Juliet works there and got us in for free....!) What an AWESOME aquarium! You can stand under this dome of glass and a giant tidal wave comes crashing down on top of you. And there is a "cafe" where you can order different types of sea food, and it is an interactive art piece that educates you about what is healthy to eat, and what is not...how it is farmed, what is going extinct, etc...all told from pre-recorded/filmed people dressed as a chef, a waitress and a waiter. You have to see it to get it. Very clever...! Gene and I also walked down by the water and looked into the wading pools....lots of teeming life: snails and fish and slithering things! And we spent a good hour, or longer, in a massive antique barn, too. I bought old postcards from the early 1900s. I could sit and look at those all day...the postage was only one penny! And everyone had such curly-q had writing...written in pencil or quill!
Then, after the gig, Gene drove us back to his home in San Jose. Thank God Gene helped me, I was nodding off every time we drove anywhere. I guess my insomnia can not handle sitting in a car....even on windy roads, my head starts nodding and before I know it, I am OUT like a light. ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Got up the next day and made breakfast for me and Gene, talked on the phone with Kathy Turner and thanked her profusely for helping me with the previous shows on Saturday, noticed Gene had some weeds, so pulled those out of his fresh sod...He has such a zen space...even his backyard looks like tiny sprites keep it organized! Gene and I went on to Santa Cruz...wow! Didn't get to go to it, but drove near the MYSTERY SPOT...where gravity does "not" exist! I want to go there, no matter what Gene says! and then got to Don Quixote's....Nice wait staff, ate some Mexican food, walked around a little bit, until Lake, the soundman, showed up and got me rockin' and rollin'. Don Quixote's has very nice sound and a great stage and a junky green room that looks like it is HAUNTED! So, Gene and I stayed out in the main room. My show went well, I was feeling discouraged, but sang my heart out to the folks who came out. One guy, afterwards, asked why I did not sing "I Couldn't Help Myself" and I apologized. I just never think to sing it! Gosh. I signed some cds for him and then Guy (pronounced "Gee" with a hard "G") came up and we chatted for awhile...see his entry he posted on my blog before this posting.
All in all, everyone treated me so kindly, and I am eternally grateful for Gene and Kathy and all of you who help to bring me out into the world to share my thoughts in song.
Kerrville:
Played children's shows on Saturday and Sunday....WHAT SUPER FUN! Man o man....That was a blast, both days. Both times, both audiences ended up covering and flooding over the stage. I like having everyone up close!
Sunday, Lance drove in from Austin to bring me home after the evening show....the rain started pouring...I believe, all in all, Kerrville had about 8 inches of rain! Whoo! Floods and muds, my friends! So the whole she-bang got moved from the Main Stage over to the Threadgill Stage, where instead of performing at 7:40 pm, I went on about 9:30ish and got to play with Brian Ashley Jones (guitar) , Tish Simerall (did I spell that right, Tish? pls. let me know!), Kristin DeWitt (vocals) and Lorrie Singer (vocals). Lorrie, Kristin and I walked out and did our soundcheck to "The Star Spangled Banner" in honor of Memorial Day, and it sounded KICK-ASS. Can one be patriotic AND kick-ass? Well, we were. There's my 2 cents worth! Everyone stood...and sang along...it was gorgeous and moving and singing that song always takes me back to being a kid in elementary school, back when things seemed right and simple and good and you trusted your government and believed everything your parents told you!
I'm so glad Brian had asked me, back when I played Eddie's Attic in Atlanta, if he could play with me sometime. That night, I had said, "Heck, yea!" after hearing him play with Corinne, and so he then asked if his girlfriend, Tish, could play, as well, and there you have it! They were two of the neatest people I've met in a long time, and they had the songs charted out and were real pros. After the children's show on Saturday, we all went to a restaurant and sat for SIX HOURS chatting...gosh, that was SO RELAXING...just chattin' and laughin' and chompin' on chips! Really good folks.
So, Sunday night, after our set, and talking with friends back stage and packing up and paying everybody, Lance and I got in the rain to the car, and Lance drove us home. We got in around 1 a.m.....I slept until 6 a.m., got up and got ready to fly to Dallas.
Memorial Day:
Flew to Dallas. My dear friends, Doug, Jill and Riley Anna, picked me up at the airport and drove me to the Dallas Arboretum where I played for about 750 kids/parents. That was a blast, too! Then I hung out with Chris and Sarah, and we ate chicken wings galore. There was going to be a big Super Pal picnic, but I think the rain kept people home, although the sun had arrived by then. Nice to sit with Chris and Sarah, and lo and behold! Brian and Cheryl and their new baby, Sam! (Brian Hartig, who is one of my all time favorite drummers...he played with me back in Dallas and on the Austin City Limits t.v. show)....We all talked about babies and life and chicken wings.
Sarah had brought me an incredible gift: the kids in her ice skating class had learned a routine to "Birdhouse", the song I wrote with David Batteau, and she had a framed photo of the kids on ice dressed as different elements of the song...some kids were the wind, the sun, a bee, a bird (in a "silver" cage), and even a ice skater who represented ME! I was in tears! I only wish I could have witnessed the skate routine as it was unfolding the day the performance occurred. Sarah says she thinks one of the parents filmed it, so if a copy comes my way, I will try to post it so you can watch it, too.
Afterwards, I was picked up by Scott and his lovely fiance, Kate, and taken to their dreamy abode near White Rock Lake, where Scott talked with me about creativity, how I could further shape my career, if I should write a book, and many other things. He gave me some insight on some dilemnas I am facing, and for that, I am very grateful for his generous time and advice! Kate made us some yummy snacks, and we sat out in their garden and munched in the raindrops.
Then, it was time to head back to the airport, and get home to my family....
When I got to Love Field, I decided not to check my guitar, but to just get to my gate so I could sit and think about everything that has been going on lately. I made it through the checkpoint, and as I was putting my boots back on, the man behind me said, "Nice boots, lady!" Funny, but something in my head kept saying, "Ask him if he knows Larry...." I was having an inner dialogue, "Nah...just move along!" which was countered with, "Yes, ask him! Really! Do it!"
So, I followed the advice of my inner voice and turned to the gentleman and asked (as he was putting on HIS boots), "Excuse me, do you know Larry Hance, the lawyer?" and he said he did, and then I asked him to tell Larry hello from me next time he saw him, and then he said, "I know you! I like your music very much!" And then, somehow, of course, we were parted by the waves and I headed for my gate.
Which....I might add....was on the complete other side of the airport, so there I was with guitar, backpack, and a sack of gifts someone had brought to the arboretum for the girls, almost to the gate, when I heard over the loudspeakers,
"Sara Hickman, please return to the main checkpoint...Sara Hickman..." And I was like, "UGH!" cuz I was going to have to lug all this stuff all the way back across the airport, AND make it back in time to board, when out of the blue walked the nice gentleman who I had just mentioned, and he says, "Did you hear your name? Do you want me to watch all your things while you go back?" and I was SO GRATEFUL and then I realized WHY THE VOICE IN MY HEAD had insisted I talk to Spike (that was his name!) because he was on the SAME FLIGHT AS ME!!!! Can you believe it? Of course you can!
So, I thanked him profusely, left my stuff in his care, and started the hike back to the checkpoint....almost there, I was walking down the ramp, when up walked a security guard with a huge smile. He walked right up to me, my drivers license in his hand, and he says,
"You don't know how many happy memories you brought up when I found your drivers license..."
And I looked at him and threw my arms around him and gave him a HUGE hug and said, "Bless you!"
And he pulled away, and he had TEARS in his eyes, and he said, "You probably don't remember me, but I used to be the store manager at Sound Warehouse on Greenville Avenue..."
And I said, "Oh, I DO!" and I did, and I started to weep, too....and there we were, two old acquaintances, changed by the years and our circumstances, and we hugged again, and there was this happy, but sad, feeling in the air, as if we both understood how much has changed in the world since those days: the way people treat one another, the way music has changed, the way the world has changed....it didn't even need to be said.
I walked back to that gate...and I felt so calm, so loved, by all these constant reminders that we are all connected on so many levels. And then....I had an in-depth conversation with Spike about legal matters, about lawyers (he's a lawyer) about politics...it was all so good.
And then I slept on the plane, and dreamed of someone I love very much, and I woke up, ready to grab my guitar, get to my van, and head home to my children, my husband, my dog, and the resounding sound of,
"Mom's hooooooooome!"
posted by Sara Hickman at 01:26 pm
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Another blog, another world!
I've posted my blog on your show from Monday night. If you would like to check it out you can go to http://www.myspace.com/zahller and click on your name in the blog box! I'll drop the CD of pictures in the mail next week. Have fun at Kerrville and I'll see you at the Woody Guthrie Festival in July:)
--
Peace, Love and Pelosi '07!
Guy Zahller
posted by Sara Hickman at 01:26 pm
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