"Oh, thank you!" yelled Dr. Teichmer. "I would have missed the next one too!" The GPS reset itself and Dr. Teichmer pushed the vehicle into a sharp left turn. Headlights illuminated a guardrail, then rough pavement, then muddy dirt, and finally deep snow punctuated with the rutted tracks of preceding vehicles. That is how a dozen Spring Arbor University students came to be sliding down a snow-covered two track in a fifteen passenger SAU people mover packed with band equipment. For a mile we drove, entertained by a running commentary from the peanut gallery located in the back of the bus. The road got smaller and the snow deeper until we crested a hill with tires spinning and saw in the distance a yellow road sign with the words "ROAD IMPASSABLE." Fortunately, the GPS indicated a right turn immediately prior to this point. We turned onto another dirt road, and our long anticipated destination would appear in .3 ..... .2 ...... .1 ......... The GPS said that we had arrived, but we were in an empty, snow covered field with no houses in sight. Dr. Teichmer resolutely drove onward, which was the right thing to do. In about half a mile we saw a house -- and it was the one we were looking for. Everyone joyfully piled out of the people mover and into a house filled with the smell of freshly grilled burgers. It was 9:30 --- two hours later than planned -- and the SAU Jazz Band had just arrived at its first ever stop on its first ever tour!
Now, only sixteen hours have passed, but it seems that so much has happened! But it will have to be written about later. It is 2:00 am -- thanks to daylight savings time -- and later this morning I will be going to church with our host family, and playing at the same church after that! The jazz tour has been wonderful so far.
Peace and love to everyone!
G'night.
