There is an “Irish” bar across from the Aer Lingus gate. The interior looks something like a cross between Walt Disney’s idea of an Irish bar and an aetheist’s idea of a church. Across the way at the gate, Irish people glance over at it on occasion, with a kind of bemused interest. No one seems to be watching the rugby game on the TV screen.

I’m sitting here on the cool concourse floor, my back resting against the burren-style stone work of the bar’s exterior. This has been a crazy few months, and for the last several hours my mind has been blank. I don’t remember checking in. I have no recollection of the security line, of taking off my shoes or undoing my belt. Somewhere between the Minneapolis airport and JFK I simply shut off. My head needed the rest and it took it without asking me otherwise.

Yesterday I played with the Minnesota Orchestra in Minneapolis. It was a thrill to be back in the midst of a big group of expensive instruments and we had an amazing time. There were three times as many people playing on stage than we’ve ever played with in an orchestra show and three times as many people attending as we’ve ever had in Minnesota. It was tremendously exciting. I was happy as well for another reason. Earlier in the day I’d turned in the final draft of my novel.

All of this is a long way of saying that, between releasing So Runs the World Away and playing music all over the place, I’ve been putting final touches on my book. There are only so many hours in a day, so a few things had to be jettisoned for a little bit. Writing this blog was one of them. Also exercise. Now that I’m basically done with the book, I’m getting my correspondent’s hat back on and lacing up my running shoes.

It’s an exciting time and I’m an excitable man.

Stay tuned and thank you for the chance to do all of this!

All the Best,
Josh