The Celebration Iowa Family

Greetings from the Celebration Iowa tour!

10 things I never thought I would say…but I have now:

1. A charter bus is the most stable thing in my life.
2. By the time this summer is over I will have slept in 30 different beds.
3. I have arm muscle.
4. I know how to pitch a tent.
5. We need to get all the coffins on the truck.
6. The show is ready for tour.
7. We are on tour.
8. I got this book for a nickel at bus auction.
9. I slept next door to trumpeter swans last night.
10. Real men wear purple (not to mention sequins).

My absolute favorite thing about Celebration Iowa is that it has become my family. For better or worse, I feel attached to every person there. I just got home for our four-day break and I am ready to go back on tour. I've enjoyed spending time with my Davenport friends, but I feel a little restless and out of place.

Since I've gotten home I have drained my cell phone twice talking to people from all over Iowa. I've spent hours on instant messaging talking to Nick, Drew, Evelyn, and other CI family members that I can't wait to see again.

When we're on tour we are extremely close knit, everyone knows everything about everyone and our inside joke list goes on forever. It's so cool because I know that if I get tired of talking to one person or group of people, there will always be someone else to talk to.

Girls are even starting to become protective of the guys. When we field comments from host sisters about how cute a couple of boys are, our immediate mental response is "back off, they're our guys." I wonder if the guys feel the same way.

Being part of a performing family also brings the downside of family life. Sometimes people do get really annoying, or maybe all you want to do is sleep but your bus partner is already taking up the entire seat. Sometimes even having your friends around all the time doesn't make up for Mom and Dad.

As a family, we have to help each other move on and put on a smile for our hosts every night, no matter how tired and crabby we may feel. We have to stay cheerful and professional.

Being part of the Celebration Iowa family has taught me many valuable lessons that will never leave me, and given me lasting friendships that I'll have forever.