Final Canadian Show

I just got back from breakfast at a cool little restaurant here in Ottowa called “Cora’s” with David, Hussain, Erika and Bobby. Tonight we have the last of our Canadian shows and I hope this audience has as much fun as they did in the other cities in the frozen north.

This is after all a Yanni show, so it’s normal to see hundreds of middle-aged women on their feet enjoying the concert. But the diversity of fans here in Canada, all really actively enjoying the show, has been noticeable . Near the end of the London show a small child, probably five years old, escaped from his parents and made his way to the front. He scampered down the isle while reaching expectantly toward the stage with a small picture book and a marker. Matt, one of our cameramen happened to be watching when the child slipped away unnoticed while his parents applauded.

The isles were clear as the usher’s had already taken a firm position on not letting anyone come down front. The little boy’s mother saw him headed toward the impenetrable employee and rushed down to bring him back. Just as she reached him Yanni noticed what was happening and said, “It’s OK, let him through.” Matt trained the camera on the scene just as another little boy appeared with a flower in his hand. It was the most genuine touching moment I’ve seen while on tour.

Matt later told me it made him cry as he realized how much he missed his family. I can relate. The children and audience were delighted that Yanni took the gift and signed the book. Everyone was smiling and happy as we played an encore.

The next order of business for the show was when Yanni introduces a bunch of us. David Hudson is the last to be introduced.

When He came out to take his bow he was carrying a pen and a card and ran up to Yanni, exaggerating like an excited fan. For a split second we wondered what was going to happen as he he was caught off guard, but Yanni grabbed the card and quickly signed it. In response David starting jumping up and down with the card in one hand and his didgeridoo in the other and shouting “I got his autograph, I got his autograph!”. I know it all sounds a little silly but it was a lot of fun. Every now and then, especially when we're lonely and tired we need to be reminded that entertaining can, and should be, entertaining. Thanks David.

After last night's show I was in my bunk on the bus and asleep before the wheels started rolling. It is funny to me that I couldn't sleep while in the Toronto Four Seasons hotel and slept like a baby on the noisy bus. My how things have changed.

We arrived here in Ottowa a little after four AM and in a effort to get sleepy again I decided to spice up my train animation (at the top of this page) with a little smoke. It worked! If you aren't seeing smoke come out of the stack you need to refresh your browser. I had to empty the cache on mine before it appeared.

Quite a few of you have written to tell me you’re signing up for blogger but have no idea what a blog is! I’ll post a more thorough explanation later today. Right now I have to get a little work done on the Chattanooga Dulcimer Festival web site and I need to get some practicing done. ¶ 1:22 PM