Being a teacher, I get a week of spring vacation every April. This was a little while ago, and I did three shows during that week. My wife,Sue, had to work that week, and our daughter, Rose, spent the week in Austin, Texas with her oldest sister, so I was alone for these shows.
The first was at the Casco Inn, a residential setting for senior citizens. We had a fun afternoon in their nice big living room, and of course they loved the rabbit and doves. I was a little concerned about the big service dog that was roaming the house, but he left my animals completely alone.
The second show of the week was at Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Augusta. This is always a special show because my good friend James Weathersbee is the chaplain there. This venue can be a bit unpredictable. Many patients are there for depression and others are a bit out of touch with reality, so you never know how or if the audience will respond. This time, though, they were great! They were totally engaged in the show and we had a terrific time.
The third and final show of vacation week was at Country Village assisted living. Similar to Casco Inn, this old farm house is now a facility for senior citizens who are still semi independent. I love performing in front of their big fireplace in their living room. The audience was appreciative all the way through.
When I wasn't doing shows, I was doing chores in and out of the house, and missing Rose. Of course she had a great time with her sister, and now we're all back to our normal life, but the end of the school year is in sight!