Traveling Creatively “With the Band”

Our family’s ’round the world odyssey was side swiped by a gang of men without pants and seduced by cute dancing girls.

Tartanic at the Arizona Renaissance Festival

In the blink of an eye, we find ourselves part of a bona fide gypsy caravan across the U.S.A.–renaissance festival hopping and discovering a whole new paradigm of living.  A community of creatives, a cluster of travel trailers, a common area tent,  and a porta potty has become part of our family’s daily life.  And you’ll never guess what??  I absolutely love it!  (as do John and the kids!)

Here is the musical act Tartanic in its last incarnation at the Arizona Renaissance Festival.  I have taken on the role of photographer/videographer and am enjoying the costumes, characters, and high creative energy.  Just look at these beautiful people who I now call family… (such a sharp looking bunch of super cool freaks, huh?).

Despite 12 years of competitive piano and years of drum circle jamming I do not consider myself a musician.  Yet, that’s me sitting up on the truck in the “band” photo of Tartanic.  Very funny.  How kind they are to include me when my role is happily behind the scenes.  They’ve let me into their world to live like a Renaissance Rock Star for a moment–porta potty and all.  How glamorous.

The Arizona Renaissance Festival ended in early April and we made the long haul to Georgia pulling our new/borrowed travel trailer.  After a quick and necessary stop at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans for a beignet and cafe au lait, we hurried off to Fairburn, Georgia, just East of Atlanta and home of the Georgia Renaissance Festival.  We will be settling here at the faire campground for 2 months.  Then we will caravan to the next show…

Life is generally good and surely interesting as it reveals surprises almost daily–some wonderful and inspiring like a new video project with Tartanic, some heartbreaking like a recent close death in the family.  Needless to say, I have found it challenging to manage my time with my beloved blog!  ”Do I live it or do I write it?”  This is one of those silly things I say to myself as I lounge with a cup of strong coffee on a camping chair while looking wistfully at my laptop.

There are other challenges that come with a family living in a shoebox.  We’ve had our share of ridiculous marital explosions (the most recent regarding french fries), toddler meltdowns, and tween attitudes.  Think rainstorm, middle of the night, and a handy dandy pee bucket.  Thank goodness the weekends are reserved for costumed fantasies and oversized turkey legs that are really legs of emus. shhhh…don’t tell.

Speaking of fantasy outlets, last night I had a dream that Johnny Depp was my love interest and he lived around the corner from my parents.  I would sneak over to his house at night (like the olden days) and he would fly me around in a tiny airplane.  That was generally the whole dream, but we did go on several romantic plane rides.  It was one of those dreams that I didn’t want to leave.  These days in reality, I’m finding solace behind my telephoto lens every weekend being a Renaissance Faire paparazzi.  But that’s a story for another day!

My apologies for being gone for so long…Been distracted…I have so much to tell you.  Thanks so much for reading!

Tartanic at the Arizona Renaissance Festival 2011

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