What a wonderful A Land Remembered Tour we just completed!
However, we are so glad to be home. A few weeks ago in Facebook, I reflected on what Kim and I just did on that Florida show tour and I want to share that with you.
I’m not complaining, just explaining. It is SUCH an honor to be out there representing my father and his beloved novels.
We left California on March 1, 2019 and got home around 11:00 PM on April 9th.
It has taken a little time to gather our thoughts and here’s a partial list of what we experienced:
• 40 days on the road
• 28 different hotel stays, ranging from “don’t walk barefoot on the carpet” to “I could live here”
• 30+ mornings drinking hotel coffee ranging from bad to terrible, along with yuck hotel breakfasts
• 240 meals eaten out
• 70+ hours Kim spent setting up book displays, selling them and then packing heavy boxes of books away for the next show
• 35+ hours Rick spent setting up audiovisual equipment, then packing it away
• 28 shows performed from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle (almost Georgia) and all in between
• 42 hours Rick spent on stage presenting his show
• Hundreds of books signed and hands shaken
• Favorite show costume vests lost along the way – one
• Pairs of reading glasses lost – one
• Arguments – just a couple, mostly due to a difference in navigational decisions
• Times Kim misplaced her phone – a LOT – but she always found it
• Innumerable mysterious bruises, scrapes, broken finger nails, food stains, chigger and mosquito bites
• Several pounds gained (but not too many, considering)
• My biggest show ever at almost 1,200 enthusiastic people in the audience
• 4,415 miles driven in a cargo van full of books, costumes and AV gear; bouncing, clanging and falling out when we opened the door
• Stories shared with me that I don’t remember – dozens
• Lives touched – thousands
• Hours spent visiting my mom – not enough
All of this following 3 weeks on a whirlwind trip to Asia.
Am I happy to be home? Words cannot express how happy I am.
Will I do it again? Yes, most likely. We already have people trying to book us for 2020. But I won’t do such a long, intense schedule again.
Was it worth it? Yea, it was. We met some amazing people, made important contacts and made some money.
But there is simply no place like home! I’m enjoying hanging out with my Cambria friends although I’m missing my Florida ones. My cat is thrilled to have us home. I’m thrilled to BE home.
We’re already booking for the 2020 tour in February. We’ll be sending out notices when we book each show so if you want to be notified, sign up to join our email list below. If you are interested in booking a show yourself, please contact me at Rick@ALandRemembered.com or call 805-550-9177.
Dear Rick,
I was telling the St. Cloud Friends of the Library about your tours and they would like to know more about scheduling you for St. Cloud. I will forward your email on to President Barbara Shuman. They have a book club and would like to read “A Land Remembered” in the fall. I wanted to come to your presentation at Celebration, but I’d had a knee replacement and wasn’t getting around very well.
Thank you. I’d love to be booked for St. Cloud.
I appreciate the recommendation.
Olive, I’m in the booking phase now. Do you have contact information at the St. Cloud Friends of the Library? They can always contact me at Rick@ALandRemembered.com.
Rick— Your Sunrise Theatre Event in Fort Pierce was absolutely superb! Even our grandchildren were enthralled by you and your good Father. Well done. Thank you. Best, Sandy PS: ordered all the books-video….
That Fort Pierce show was the highlight of my tours. I am happy to hear that you and your grandchildren enjoyed it.
We are interested in a possible booking for our Newcomers Club in Citrus County in 2020. I missed the event at the Inverness library last March. Looking forward to hearing about the timing of your tour next year.
Thank you for your interest. I’ll contact you through email about this.
Bonnie, I’m starting to book for the February and March, 2020 tour now. You are welcome to contact me about coming to the Newcomers Club. You can reach me at Rick@ALandRemembered.com or call me at 888-744-9381. You can also learn more about scheduling me here.
Hope you come to Port St. Lucie…lovedyour show and all your books!
Nancy,
We hope so too. We love that area.
I would like to know about your 2020 tour. Please add me to your email list.
Thank you,
Beverly McAllister
Beverly, I will put you on the list. Thanks! Hope to see you at one of the shows! Rick
Please put me on the 2020 list. The presentation at LaBelle was my introduction to your father’s wonderful stories.
Sue, I will put you on the list. Thanks! Hope to see you at one of the shows! Rick
Please add me to your email list for your 2020 schedule.
Carla,
I added you. Rick
I loved the book. Would enjoy the opportunity to meet you in person.
JudithT Jester
Judith,
If you come to one of my shows, you can meet me. Rick
Please add me to email list. And a show in Madison county would be great!!
Sylvia, I did add you to my list.
Rick