The beginnings of fall are in the airâa quick breath of crispness that comes and goes in the blink of an eye and then surrenders again to the sticky heat of the day. But itâs there, and its moment advances day by day. This is my favorite time of year, as the dog days of summer fade into the muted skies of autumn. Everything softens and blurs at this time in a way that I find incredibly lovely. Iâve been preparing: making my yearly fire cider to prepare for cold and flu season; learning filet crochetâlacemakingâto keep my hands busy inside on a cold day; and catching up on the stacks of unread books piling up on my floor after a summer full of adventure.
The season after summer is what feels closest to a ânew yearâ for me. I reassess, take stock, and decide how I want to move forward. Is the way Iâve been doing things working, or do I need to adjust something in myself in order to orient to where I want to be and what I want my life to look like? Inevitably, some sort of transformation is involved in any transition like this. And so it goesâover and over again creating a version of myself that I am most proud of and at peace with.
I mentioned in last monthâs letter that a dear friend and semi-secret duo partner of mine will be visiting me here in Chicago soon. Our dance card is mostly full (including celebrating 10 whole years of friendship and debauchery together), but we do have time for one more engagement on September 3. This is her official âretirementâ trip, and I promise you donât want to miss out on us in a room together at least once. Drop me a line for more info, as weâre finalizing our schedule in the next few days.
Iâll be available in Chicago throughout most of September before a tour out West (Phoenix, San Francisco, and possibly Portland or LA/San Diego) at the end of the month. Then, Iâm taking some time away in October for personal travel and may be unavailable other than a few days here and there in Chicago between my adventures. Hereâs my upcoming schedule, subject to change as always.
SEPTEMBER
secret duo partner in Chicago: September 3
Milwaukee: September 21-22
Phoenix: September 26-27
San Francisco: September 28-29
Portland: September 29-30 (I could be convinced to do LA/San Diego these days insteadâwherever I get the most pre-bookings these next few days wins!)
OCTOBER
out-of-office: October 2-7 and October 22-26
NOVEMBER
Portland: November 25
San Francisco: November 26-28
LA/San Diego: November 28-29
And here in Chicago all other dates.
Please plan ahead with all this in mind or inquire about a fly-me-to-you if you donât see your preferred date or location here. All tour dates are subject to change or cancellation based on pre-bookings, as usual.