Lovin' it...in Dallas.

"As a musician you just want to be able to do what you love."

-Andy Grammer

This boy shines!!

It's always been said to do what you love and love what you do, but more so, passion stems from being great at something, and my brother, Ethan Tucker, is one of the fortunate few who have found that passion because he's great, and loves what he does.  He's made friends in the music world and recently is on tour performing with Tribal Seeds and Slightly Stoopid , a couple of reggae bands.  His nine day tour takes him throughout the south...including Texas. 

Karlie and I were fortunate enough be able to take a few days to head to Dallas, TX to see him, support his career, and experience one of his shows on the road.  Karlie talked me into the trip, I honestly hadn't been to a real concert since my teens having settled down in more ways than one, so I left behind John and Zoey and we took another girls weekend just to see Ethan.

Midland to Dallas is a five hour drive and this time of year the roadside is covered in morning glories, bluebonnets, and Texas paintbrush.   Leaving behind the flat panhandle plains we found ourselves in the beautiful prairie and lake region.  We were envious of the tall trees, lakes, and hills around us....Midland, once again you fail to draw us back.

Cool, old, collapsed farmhouse we found!!

In the Dallas city center, we found ourselves on an off ramp due to big city traffic; and the detour took us by the Dallas Convention center, which after checking into our hotel, we went back to see the impressive bronze stampede at pioneer plaza which originates near an old graveyard full of the Dallas founders from the 1800's. 

Careful Karlie!!

Soon we met up with Ethan at the venue and spent some time catching up, hung around for sound check, and met members of the other bands and support staff.  Needless to say, it was apparent to everyone we were not his real sisters, but even if it's just by marriage, we'll claim each other.  Everyone was super friendly and it was clear to me how much they all support, love and admire Ethan and his music. 

When it was showtime, Karlie and I squeeeeeezed our way to the front and thoroughly enjoyed

Come on down to my level Ethan!!

Ethan's performance as he sang with heart, played with precision, and showed Dallas who Ethan Tucker really is.  He really earns a lot of respect going out there all alone, without a band in tow, playing "a musical style all his own with influences from folk, blues, soul, reggae and jazz" for a group of dedicated reggae fans, finding his way into their hearts. (Quote from Ethantuckermusic.com)

Karlie and I popped in and out of the front to experience the whole show and experienced the good (music), bad (large crowd), and the ugly (always a crazy fan or two).  We stayed late into the night enjoying every minute with Ethan then said our goodbyes with lots of hugs, laughing, and love. 

Dallas was a great experience, and I love Ethan and what he does.  Next time he's in the state, we'll be there....maybe next time he'll be the main show!!



*** If you're interested in hearing more of Ethan's music,  you can follow him on Facebook, download songs on iTunes, and order a CD on his website.

Million Dollar Question

"There are people who have money and people who are rich."

-Coco Chanel

What would you do if you had a million dollars?  We've all been asked, pondered and even discussed the subject. Many times people answer the question while stressing the importance of investing, developing their existing enterprises, or budgeting to make it last, but that's not the purpose of the question.  The question is not about money, but about who you really are and what you want in life.  When the answer  includes family, philanthropy, spirituality and self-discovery, you start to get to the heart of it all.  What do you desire out of life?

Park in San Antonio

I had often answered the question with the logical, responsible part of my brain; stating that my life would not change much, budgeting to make the money last and living relatively simply.  But, I would always throw in....and I would find a way to do some traveling, revealing my desire to travel. It's been said, if you want to do it, find a way, money aside. 

People travel different ways, and most choose the modern, stable family approach. Working a steady job, paying all your bills, saving up vacation time and money for a quick one or two week visit (if that) in an exotic location.  This approach is the safest and most expensive, leaving little time to truly experience a culture, but allowing a glimpse into the world around us.  There is nothing wrong with the tourism approach and I hope we have many opportunities to travel like this in our future.  The only problem with this form of travel is ,"The traveler... went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience.  The tourist is passive, he expects interesting things to happen to him, he goes "sight-seeing." (Daniel J. Boorstin)

Couple of Tourist

Some choose what I call the Vagabond way.  Where you get in your car and go, no financial backing, and no plan.  They live on the road and quite literally fly by the seat of their pants.  They believe “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”(Lao Tzu)  This form of travel, although exciting, is a bit reckless often causing you to rely on the generosity of stable individuals or causing you to fall into disreputable crowds.  This way of travel would drive me crazy and is simply impractical for a responsible adult and parent.

Many retired individuals choose to live in different locals, occasionally changing their residency or keeping their home mobile by living in a trailer, mobile home, short term rentals or on a boat. Most of these travelers settle down in time, but take some time to experience “The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” (Bill Bryson)  Most of these travelers must accumulate a savings or form a stream of income to support their travel experience.

Finally some choose to move from their homeland, to experience a new culture and a new life.  They are able to immerse themselves in the culture and become part of that society, although always aliens in the strange land. Living abroad, “I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.”(Bill Bryson) This form of travel gives an individual the greatest sense of a culture, but narrows the experience to a single or a few places.


John and I are now deciding how we will choose to travel, get in some travel before we settle down again, go straight to Belize or see a few places first.  We may choose one of these options, or formulate a combination of the aforementioned options.  For now we'll live in limbo, neither here nor there, but waiting, dreaming and planning for what may be. As it turns out, limbo can be pretty fun too. The question is, what would you do with a million dollars?

The Ones Left Behind

"Family faces are magic mirrors.  

Looking at people who belong to us, we see 

the past, present, and future. "

-Gail Lumet Buckley

The Campbell kids - 1990

The decision to leave Idaho was easy, but carrying it out was difficult, and made harder by the faces I left behind. All friends and family are hard to say goodbye to, but as always some are harder than others.

I've always loved my dad, not only because he is my father, but because he has earned a special place in my heart being the best person, dad, and grandfather.  Leaving the closeness of being near him was hard, but all kids grow up and move away and I know we'll always be close no matter how far away I am.  It was hardest to take Zoey from them (Dad and Brenda), but I hope that each moment they now have together will be that more treasured and memorable.  For now we stick to regular updates and planned encounters as we go on with our lives.

 Leaving behind my family in October meant saying goodbye to one person for good.  My grandma and Zoey's great-grandma Ruth Frehner was in ill health and had been getting worse over the last few

Baby Zoey and Great-grandma Ruth

years.  I knew as I held her hand and talked to her a few days before I left Idaho, it was most likely the last time I would see her, and it was.  Early December, one day before she and my Grandpa Stan would have celebrated 39 years together, she died peacefully. Due to prior obligations and the extreme distance home, Karlie and I were unable to attend the funeral, but sent flowers in her memory.

Although I knew I would miss her, one person has been missed a lot more than I ever expected, Chrissy.  My sister Chrissy and I have always been the closest of sisters and friends.  With only two years between us, we've seen each other through every stage in life.  Nobody laughs with me like she does; appreciating the ironic, stating the obvious, and matching my sometimes off-beat humor.  It's funny how different we are too, but i think in those differences we manage to compliment, balance and cultivate our sisterhood. For now our relationship is long-distance, but someday it may be at least in the same climate again.

Me and Chrissy 1983

With Mr. Molly (the hamster) 1985

Camping ~1989

High School graduation 1999

Being Crazy....as adults.

All that being said, being away is nice.  Sometimes when we have each other too available and so we forget to make time for one another, feeling they'll always be there.  But when you're apart and come back together, you make the time and treasure the moments, knowing they are short lived.   That being said, I choose not to miss my family, but rather look forward to the treasured moments we will have in the future.