Tag Archives: road stories

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Tucson, Arizona. Central New Mexico. Music. Moonlight. Dan Fogelberg. Storytelling. All parts of “the road” from a long time ago. And, early this morning, I thought about an incredible, singular experience I had during a full moon drive. Strangely enough, it was a motion-sensor light that triggered that full moon memory.

Huh? A motion-sensor light and a full moon drive?

Yeah, I got out of bed and started to get dressed in the dark. Just as I always do. Because a beautiful wife should have all the beauty sleep she can get. So, flipping on the overhead light would just be rude and uncalled for. And I’m nothing if not considerate and called for.

Anyway…

As I dressed, the motion-sensor light in back of the house suddenly lit up and seeped through the window blinds. It wasn’t as bright as the overhead bedroom light would have been. But it definitely gave the room a sort of moonlit glow. And I peeked out the window to be sure there were no prowlers or ferocious animals I’d have to slay. No intruders in sight. Probably just a bird flying by that triggered the light.

So, I finished dressing and went to the kitchen to brew some wake up elixir, as I always do. And as I measured out the dark-roasted coffee beans, and drew the pure water from our gravity filter, I kept thinking of how that fluorescent light reminded me of that full moon drive, years ago.

The memory of the wavy road, in the wee winter hours, reminded me of when I first learned about metaphors and similes in school. My English composition book shared examples of each. And one of the examples of a metaphor was “the road was a ribbon of light.” I remember thinking, “Hey, I’m on that road all these years later.”

Back to the drive.

Dan Fogelberg released his eighth album, Windows and Walls, in 1984 (the year of my full moon drive). And one song was called “Tucson Arizona (Gazette). He said he wrote the song based on a story he read in that paper. And the song is a little over eight and half minutes long. But if you like Spanish-sounding guitar riffs and percussion (I DO), the song certainly doesn’t feel long.

And that’s the song I played several times over as I drove my little Toyota pickup through the cold, New Mexico night. On a secondary highway heading north toward I-40. The full moon reflected on the road. And there were basically no other cars. So, I turned off my headlights and skimmed across that ribbon of light.

I could see almost as easily without the headlights. Because the reflection from the road seemed to amplify and magnify the moonlight. It was exhilarating. And obviously a sensory experience I’ll never forget.

And all these years later, something else comes to mind.

None of that experience, nor any others like it, could ever happen without the love of God. Because, without Him, there would only be darkness and void. In fact, he inspired Moses to describe the light He made for us. So, Moses wrote this:

“Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness.”

Think about that. Those lights RULE. You and I have zero control over whether the sun and moon will shine or not. So, in a sense, they rule their light over us. Day WILL be lit up by the sun. And the moon lights the nights. Well, the stars, too. But the main light is the moon.

And those lights in the sky are indicators of how important light is to God. Then, when you go to the other end of the Bible, you discover that, in Heaven, there won’t be a sun and moon. What? If light is so important to Him, why would Heaven have no sun or moon? Simple. Yet almost impossible to imagine. God will BE the light.

And that Ribbon of Light will wrap around anyone who chooses to be there. That includes you. Right?

If not, consider taking a full moon drive, out West, the next chance you get. Turn off your headlights. And think about what could happen if you accidentally ended up in a ditch because you missed something on the road. And think about if you ended up like Tony and Mary, in Dan Fogelberg‘s song. Where would you go or be?

I hope you’d ride the ribbon of Light to Heaven.

But that could only happen if you had already chosen wisely. Otherwise, you could just be another side story in a small newspaper. And Dan won’t write a song about you. Because he left this planet years ago. And even I might not be around to write a song about you.

So, don’t put it off. Choose your Creator and you’ll feel (and be) more alive than you can imagine.

You’ll thank me later.

Stay tuned,

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You’ve probably seen or heard those so-called “influencers” who boast (as they insist they’re not boasting) about being able to work from anywhere. And maybe they even show you some tropical sights while a steel drum band delivers up some musical beach sounds. Come to think of it, that doesn’t sound half bad right about now. But I digress (or do I?).

Pardon me for a second while I turn down the beach sounds in my earbuds.

Of course, most of that influencer stuff is hype and silliness. Sure, it can definitely be done. But most hard-working business owners and entrepreneurs don’t live that life. Because they’re too busy serving the needs of their customers and clients.

But I said all that so I could say this.

I used to live a life very much like that. I led the life of a full-time traveling musician. And there were plenty of times I found myself enjoying the beach sounds during the day, and making the music sounds at night. And thinking up new songs to write or learn. I wasn’t rich, but it sure felt like it sometimes. I can very distinctly remember how, sometimes, I’d pinch myself and say “Just think, Tony, someone is actually paying you to sing and play music!”

The venues wanted top 40 and variety.

So, naturally, that’s what I played. Because I had to get paid. But during the day, I could focus on my original music. And I did a LOT of that. If you’ve followed my articles or podcast for a while, you’ve heard me talk about my Motel Sessions. There were lots of those. And today I found one of those songs from one of those sessions in a little beach motel near Padre Island, Texas.

Keep in mind, the emphasis is on Motel Sessions. No studio involved. No vocal booth. Just pure, raw motel room recording. So, when you check out the podcast version of this post, you’ll hear that it’s not a radio ready recording. But I believe it’s very listenable.

It’s a song about a girl (And the crowd gasps! What?! A musician writing a song about a girl?!). Yeah, I know. But hey, I was much younger, unmarried, and a musician. So, the songwriting trifecta. Anyway, it was a girl I only saw a couple of times. Before you jump to any conclusions, we didn’t have a physical relationship. And truth be known, I think bicycling in the salt air did more to inspire me to write the song than anything else.

Anyway I hope you get a kick out of this little peek behind the curtain of time. Below are the lyrics. And you can hear the song when you click or tap on the podcast player button.

Makenzie

She touched me for a moment and held my heart at bay
A feeling took me over more than just these words can say
She had a look about her that could make a man a boy
But she didn’t take advantage; she didn’t play me like a toy.

Now I often write her letters just to let her know she’s here
In the corner of my memory. In my mind; I hold her near.

Makenzie, make that moment ours again.
Makenzie, let me feel the rhythm of your heart.
I wish we could shut down the hands of time.
Why do I have to be apart from you…Makenzie?

She spoke of Colorado, and a light came to her face.
She said she’d never been there but still she loved the place.
And something stirred inside me ’cause we shared that pleasant thought.
And I think I ought to tell her that, for now, my heart is caught.

© 1987 (January 10)

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

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It would be a bit of a stretch to say I can see very well. At least, without my glasses, it would be a stretch. And even though I’m more vision-challenged now than when I was younger, my eyesight was never 20/20.

But thankfully I can see very well with my cool, round glasses.

Now, I shared all that to lead into another snippet of my professional music history. Let’s adjust the Wayback Machine to the year 1981, Sherman, and be quickly on our way.

And, notice just down there, to the right, a well-known restaurant and live music establishment in Houston, Texas. The Railhead. Let’s go inside and check out the act, a four-piece variety band called Mhoon, Stone, and Greenlee. Yeah, I know that’s only three names. But, trust me, it’s a four-piece band. And I oughta know.

Because I was the fourth member.

Yep. That’s me. In the back. On the white drums. Keepin’ the beat. And singin’ every now and then. Matter of fact, the band just stopped, and I’m gettin’ up and comin’ out front.

The rhythm guitar player, Glen Stone, is playin’ a recognizable song. I’ve got a microphone in my hand. And listen as I start singin’…

I can see…very well…

There’s a boat on the reef with a broken back,And I can see it very well.There’s a joke…and I know it very well.It’s one of those that I told you long ago.Take my word I’m a madman, don’t you know.

Even if YOU don’t recognize those lyrics, the crowd sure did that night. And they started clapping the minute I started singin’ those words from “Madman Across The Water,” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Glen and I did an entirely “unplugged” acoustic version of the song. Just him on guitar and me vocalizing. And when we finished, a couple of hundred people stood up and cheered. It was a surprise to me. Because I was the new guy in the band. The other guys were established performers in Houston and in Atlanta, Georgia.

They decided their trio of guitars and bass needed a drummer. And we all knew each other from paths crossing in the different venues around Houston. So, when they heard my duo act had split up, they invited me to join them.

Their fans certainly gave me a warm welcome.

And I thought about all that because I just saw that today marks 51 years since the release of Elton John’s album, “Madman Across The Water.” My brother bought me a copy of the album, way back in the 70’s, and it was the source of inspiration for me to teach myself the piano.

It had a simple, but cool album cover design. I just found out that embroidery, featured on the cover was created in a two-week span by Janis Larkham. She was the wife of the album art director David Larkham. And she did all that artsy needlework on the back of an old Levi’s jacket. Elton John got the original. But I had one of the first copies.

OK. Enough of the walk down memory lane. Just thought I’d share something a little different with you this time. If you’ve heard this story before, just nod and smile. I’m really not a madman. And, remember, I can see very well with my round glasses. Well enough to know if you’re laughing with me or AT me. (bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha)

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Elgielene and I had been married for less than a year. And each day was an exploration into love, joy, and laughter. But then a routine-changing glitch happened. The economy bottomed out. And we discovered what we had been doing wasn’t enough. So, we did what any normal couple would do. We hit the road.

What? You’ve never hit the road in a bad economy?

Well then, you don’t know what you’ve missed.

And that’s probably a good thing. For most people anyway.

Because I’ve heard so many couples mention how they couldn’t spend 24 hours a day together. Especially for days, weeks, months, and even years on end. And I think that’s sad. You can learn a lot about someone, in less time, when you spend more time with them. Sounds backward. But it’s really forward.

Elgielene and I saw a LOT of America while we traveled, full-time, back and forth across the country. And we met a LOT of people from a wide variety of states and towns. And we had a blast spending all the time together. In our little blue pickup. And in our fancy hotel rooms (yeah, right). Just the two of us. 24 hours a day.

But we found out what kind of person each of us had married. Turns out, we both liked what we got. And that’s more than most married couples can say anymore.

After we got off the road, we landed in Nashville where I made the songwriter rounds. And after a year there (and countless times of being told I should go to L.A.) we hit the road to Tampa, Florida. A friend told me there were lots of places where I could play beach music to appreciative crowds. And that ended up being true.

But, after a year there, we headed back up the road to Colorado.

And once we established ourselves back in the Rocky Mountain state, I recorded a CD of Christian inspired songs. One of those songs was about that road life we had together. And how it made me feel.

It was called Safe and Sound.

Through sales of the CD, across the country, I found out that a couple somewhere down South or in the heartland had even played that song in their wedding. What an honor that was for me.

The chorus, which also sounds like a song bridge, says…

We laugh like there’s no tomorrow.
We’re touched by the hand of God.
So what if there’s no new sunrise.
So what if the world won’t spin around.
We’re safe and sound.

And the verse that captures our road life says…

Miles have gone by; we dared to go see
The wide open space and seldom we frowned
Look how our love is safe and sound
Deep in our hearts and inside our minds
We capture the words and they keep us bound
Saying our love is safe and sound

That song, and 12 others, can be found on my Do Right CD. And I actually have some of those original CD’s left from 1996. So, I’m selling them as the Do Right 25th Anniversary Cheryl Care Package. Because all the profits, after shipping, will go to a wonderful woman who lost her husband just a few weeks ago. He was a pastor.

If you’d care to help out a pastor’s wife who’s been through a lot, the link to get the CD is below.

“Safe and Sound” © 1993 Tony Funderburk

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Several years ago I shared a short story of the less-than-glamorous side of life on the road. It was something that happened way back in the early 90’s. And you could either say it’s proof “God has a plan” or you could say “thank goodness for free will” and hard workers.

I prefer not to go with the “God has a plan” option.

Not because I don’t believe God can plan. Far from it. In fact, I think He carried out a beautiful and perfect plan when He created the universe and all living things. No, I just don’t believe He’s set up a daily to-do list for us.

But let me get back to the road story.

I was on one of those extremely long drives I used to make fairly often. And this one was from Texas almost all the way up to the Canadian border. And it was middle of the winter. So, the southern part of the drive was a piece of cake. But the overnight part in the northern section of the country was a popsicle.

I had to make a stop, for gas, around 2 a.m. When I went inside to pay, the clerk told me the temperature was about -35 degrees. And that’s fahrenheit. Not windchill, mind you. No, that was the actual temperature. No wonder it had felt like the heater wasn’t working.

So, I put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator. And that helped the heater warm up the cab of my truck enough to feel like I might make it through the night.

But a little further up the road (and away from any town) the truck stalled out. Mind you it’s late Saturday night / early Sunday morning. And it’s basically the middle of nowhere. Minus 65 degrees windchill.

And it felt like the dark side of the moon.

So, in circumstances like that you’ve basically got two options. Relax and wait for the end to come. Or hope for somebody else crazy enough to be out on that kind of night.

I went with option two. But it didn’t look good. No cars in sight. And no headlights in the distance. Just when I started to think the world was out of good samaritans, some headlights appeared in the distance. It was almost like an angel from Heaven.

Before long, a diesel pickup pulled up, and as we rolled our windows down a nice guy said, “You’re lucky, man. I work overnights, but I don’t typically go in on Sundays. I was fillin’ in today. And you might not see another car for hours.”

I told him I totally agreed. And asked him if he could help.

He knew of a place where I could pull my truck inside and “warm it up a bit”. And he graciously towed me there and wouldn’t accept payment.

The good news was that the only problem I had was frozen water in the carb. And when the truck warmed up and melted the frozen stuff, it started right up. From that time on, I’ve always used water evaporators in my gas tank during the winter.

So, here’s the question.

Did God plan for all that to happen? And did He set it all up (did He decree it) before the foundation of the world? Or did God give us good brains and our own will so we could make our own choices?

If you say he planned it all, I hope you have some amazing evidence to back that up. Because, if you don’t, you’re gonna have to deal with how God planned for me to oppose you. And, as Spock would say, that’s…

“Most illogical.”

We can see design upon His land…
Even in an unborn baby’s hand,
And when life is not the way we planned,
Only a living God helps us understand.

(from “Our Father’s Day)
© 2010 Tony Funderburk

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About nine years ago, I shared a story about some people in a place at the end of a 24 hour drive. And this kind of subject came up yesterday. And somebody said I should share the story again. Here it is…

~ After a long, almost 24 hour drive from Kansas to South Carolina, we pulled into the hotel where we’d be staying and playing. Luckily we had the rest of the day and night before we started. So, we caught up on sleep that evening.

And the next day I needed to get a document notarized. So, we went to the town hall where a notary public had been recommended. I asked a guy if I could get my document notarized. And he asked me what the document was for. Then, I asked him why he needed to know. And I promptly got the in-the-movies-southern-good-ol’-boy third degree…

“Boy!” he exclaimed, “we don’t appreciate smart aleck long hair types like you around here.”

I would have thought it was a joke, but he didn’t have a smile within a hundred miles of his face.

“Never mind,” I said. And we went to a convenience store to ask where else a notary public might be.

(Did I mention this was all after a 24 hour drive?)

And the clerk, who seemed to have the same high opinion of me I’d just experienced at the town hall, pointed out one down the street. But we ignored the lack of pleasantries and walked a few blocks to another office. I hope I’m not being politically incorrect when I say this…

A very nice lady, with skin the color of mocha, came to the front of the office and said she was the notary public and that she’d be glad to notarize the document for me. It took about a minute and cost less than $5. And it was all done with smiles and kindness. Nice change…what a concept.

And later that night, at the end of our 4 hours of music, we went out for a walk. But, before we left the front parking lot of the motel, the owner drove up to us.

“What are ya’ll doin’ out here?” he asked.

“Just goin’ for a walk before we go to bed.” I replied.

“Well, I suggest you just go on to your room. Because you don’t need to be out here without something like this.” And he pointed to a gun he had in his car’s console. “People end up shot or missin’ if they’re out too late.”

So, we opted to go to bed. And the next day, sure enough, we heard a report of a killing in a field not far from our room and the motel.

Yikes.

We played that establishment for 2 weeks before moving on to our next stop. But it felt like 2 months. Pitch black walls. Some guy in the back making wolf calls almost every night. And smoke so thick you could see pillars of it from the canister lighting.

This story is true. So I’ll keep the name of the town and its people anonymous to protect the innocent…if there were any.

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In 1975 I worked in a disco. Just writing those words sounds crazy to me now. But it’s true. At that time, disco music was big. And if you don’t know what disco was, then you might be too young to be reading this. So, make sure your parents say it’s OK to proceed.

Anyway…disco music was the thang.

Just do a search for disco music. And you can find some of the awesome (and I use that adjective loosely) pictures of what was going on back then. Or you can save your eyes and skip the search. Just kidding. Sort of

But I didn’t bring up the subject of disco music to discuss whether or not it had any redeeming qualities. No, I have something much more fantastic in mind. A certain Captain, to be more precise. And to be even more precise, I’m talking about “Captain Fantastic.”

In case you’re not familiar with Captain Fantastic, that’s the title of a bestselling album, by Elton John, from way back in 1975.

Now, you might be thinking, “Yeah, yeah…whatever. Tell me more about your disco days.”

Well, that’s just it. I AM. Because, believe it or not, Captain Fantastic actually connects to my days as a bartender in a disco.

One day, during a shift at the disco, I told a fellow bartender that I knew every word to every Elton John album. And that included the “new” one, Captain Fantastic. For some strange reason, that baffles me to this day, the fellow bartender didn’t believe me. And he started challenging me.

But those challenges were shot down again and again.

Because, if I tell you I can do something, I CAN do it. I won’t even bring it up otherwise.

But every time an Elton John song would come up, the other bartender would expect me to sing along without missing any words. And I’d happily oblige. So, word of my lyrical prowess spread through the staff. And, so did word of my singing ability. And that ability got me out of some work at the end of a long evening shift.

Because, at the end of our shifts, we had to clean up after a thousand patrons (no exaggeration). So, that meant tons of drink cups, tables to be cleaned off, floors to be swept, bars to be wiped down, etc. And while we all worked, the disco DJ would play…uh…good songs. NOT disco.

One of those was a song off the Captain Fantastic album, “Better Off Dead.” The other employees asked the DJ to let me sing along with it when he played it (or basically any Elton John song), and the DJ agreed.

So, while my fellow workers cleaned up the place, I sang along with Better Off Dead. I’d do the main vocal, the second harmony, the third, and back again. It was a blast. Here’s the chorus to that song…

‘Cause the steam’s in the boiler, the coal’s in the fire
If you ask how I am, then I’ll just say inspired
If the thorn of a rose, is the thorn in your side
Then you’re better off dead, if you haven’t yet died

Back then, I was a big Elton John fan. It was because of him that I figured out how to make my way around a keyboard. And I could sing Elton John songs better than Elton John (hey, like Babe Ruth said, “It ain’t braggin’ if it’s true.”)

But now, of course, I’ve found out much more about Elton. And I vehemently oppose his lifestyle choice and his worldview. I wish he would repent and trust his Creator and live forever in Heaven. But that certainly doesn’t seem imminent, to say the least.

So, right now, Mr. John would definitely NOT be better off dead. Quite the opposite. He has an extremely comfortable, lavish life in the here and now. His eternity doesn’t look so bright. So, in that regard…

I’m Better Off

I think we can agree…I’m not better than you.
It isn’t very hard to believe that it’s true.
But let me say this now, and I hope you won’t scoff…
Though I’m not better than…I know I’m better off.

I’m better off…
If you say there is no Jesus and no Truth that ever frees us.
I’m better off…
If you say no bright tomorrow can erase all of your sorrow.
I’m better off…
For a multitude of reasons, an eternity of seasons.
I’m better off…
When I leave this dark theater, I’ll go live with the Creator.

So, I’m not better than any person who sins.
No, that’s an argument where no one ever wins.
But try to understand, and don’t grumble and cough,
When I say “trust the Lord“, and you’ll be better off.

© 2014 Tony Funderburk

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