Dear hearts,
This here's an uncharacteristically short update, a Hobo Stay-Put-A-Logue which could conceivably be summed up in one word, and that word is thanks.
Since I got home I've been putting in long hours on the last three years' taxes (I caught up in 2020 but have unsurprisingly fallen behind again) and it's furnishing plenty of reminders of the places we've been, the people we've met, and of all the kind souls who reached out during those strange days when tours were on hold and I was trepidatiously bringing Tangle of Souls into the world. However you've aided in the re-entry, whether by coming to a show, chipping in to our online tip jar, buying an album, sponsoring my craft as one of my Fellow Travellers, or offering hospitality along our journeys––and for many of you, it's several of those––I truly can't thank you enough.
More broadly, I'm grateful to be alive and healthy. I marked the fifth anniversary of my last bender back in October, and I thank all the forces that conspired to turn me around. I'm grateful to have a roof over my head, and friends around who care about me. And every single day I'm reminded how lucky I am not to be fleeing war or famine, and to live in a country which continues to welcome people who are.
This year I'm resolving to hew closer to my purpose in this work––trying to open hearts and minds––and narrow my focus to the things that serve that goal. I've been practicing my instruments more regularly and more deliberately since the break in 2020, and I'm gonna double down on that. And I've been writing a new song most every month to share with my Fellow Travellers, thanks to a challenge I set for myself 21 months ago which has turned out to be a life-changing decision. December's song "Christmas on the Mekong" feels like a keeper, and I reckon there's plenty more to come––you can hear them all if you want to join us over on Patreon at whatever price feels right for you. I also took a couple weeks' break from social media in December, and it solidified my feeling that less is more when it comes to all that.
Pamela and I talked about resolutions today and she summed it up best––doing a little bit today of all the things I want to see tomorrow.
As you may know, I'm headed back down under later this month, with stops in Seattle, Oahu, Samoa, and Fiji along the way. I'm playing two house concerts in Seattle at the invitation of living-room impresario extraordinaire Bill Lippe, who's bringing me and Krista Detor for a weekend of shows to celebrate his 200th house concert. Krista and her band are playing Friday night, we're doing a double-bill Saturday night, and I'm playing an afternoon show on Sunday. There are still seats available, but there won't be for long. Everyone's welcome, you've just gotta RSVP to reserve your spot.
Oh, and I've added a house concert in Plimmerton, New Zealand for the Wellington folks who felt left out on my Aotearoa tour, and seats are going fast for that one too. As always, all the dates and deets are on www.scottcook.net. Several folks in Australia have written to ask if I'll play their town, and while it sure feels good to be wanted, the Australian tour's fully booked. I'll announce the dates as soon as I'm allowed, but I'm also keeping a list of ideas for the next time around, as I'm hoping to bring Pamela along for a longer run in 2024.
Pamela and I are both shovelling away at our respective work-heaps, so we're gonna take January off from the online shows, but I'll be doing one from Fiji at the regular time, 5:55 Mountain Time on the first Tuesday of February (which will actually be Wednesday in Fiji; find your own time zone here), and from Australia on the first Tuesday of March.
Oh, and Elliot moved out yesterday! He's living in a tiny house across the river, and we miss him already. But we're not quite empty-nesters, since Pamela volunteered with a local animal rescue to host our new friend Deedee while she recovers from her spay surgery, and a house is always lively with a monkey in it.
Wherever you are, I hope this new year's looking good so far. And no matter what this sad, beautiful world brings our way, it will always afford us occasions to practice compassion.
Love and luck,
s