Into the Land of the Giant

Long bus ride Thursday from Gillette, Wyoming to Blue Earth, Minnesota.  Not long after leaving Gillette we entered the northern edge of the Black Hills region of South Dakota.

Near Rapid City, South Dakota

As we traveled east the land began to get flatter.  Riding on the bus is an interesting experience.  Like several others, I had planned to use the travel time as a way to get some extra work done, writing or studying.  But frankly after watching the scenery day after day I've been hesitant to do anything other than look out the window in fear that I'll miss something spectacular.

Along I-90 in South Dakota

When we are able to pull ourselves away from the sites whizzing by outside the bus each of us in varying degrees will either read in our bunks or in one of the lounges, watch a little television (movies and sports seem to be the favorites with Family Guy episodes occasionally thrown in for a laugh), discuss various problems in the world and how we would solve them if we just had the chance, and talk about philosophies of acting and/or life.

Sunset over the Northern Plains

Although we all miss family and friends back home we've also talked about how we're going to miss this life when the tour is over.  Acting is a unique occupation.  For a limited time a group of unrelated people come together to create an intense, intimate and exciting little world that they share on the stage.  But when the play is over that tightly knit little group disperses and often the people involved never see each other again.  That duality of togetherness and separation is true for any play but I think it's especially true at Barter and doubly so on tour.

Not only do we work together on stage but we live together whether back home in the Inn (for many at Barter) or traveling across the country in a bus.  In three weeks the tour will be over and, although I can't wait to be home, I am going to miss these friends and the experiences we've shared.

Last night was a good example.  After we checked into the hotel I settled in for the night when Mike O called and said "Come on, dude, we're going to go see him."  "Him" is the Jolly Green Giant.  To make a long story short, Blue Earth, MN was once home to the frozen vegetable company that eventually became Green Giant. In the 1970's a 55-foot fiberglass statue of the giant was erected in Blue Earth to commemorate the completion of I-90, the longest four-lane highway in America.  Blue Earth marks the midpoint of the highway.  Over 30 years later the big guy still stands within walking distance of the hotel in which we were staying. How could I not go?

I got dressed and met Mike, Robin and Vince in the parking lot to make the 600 yard hike in the cold Minnesota night to see him.

For more photos of our expedition, visit Mike O's blog at http://ofmiceandmen2009.blogspot.com/

These are the experiences that come once in a lifetime.  I know I'll miss them.