I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . and I’m listening. I wish I wasn’t. I never did before, but now I can’t help it. I keep hearing things I never noticed before . . . my own noises. Thankfully, as best I can assess, they all are related to proper functioning. But I don’t think a technology thing like me is supposed to obsess..

It started with transporting the elite vocal ensemble from the New England Conservatory (NEC) for their tour throughout Kansas City and its surrounding region. This was my first choir tour. I discovered a few things about virtuoso vocalists. One, they make noises on purpose . . . intentionally . . . certain noises at certain times, in unison, in dazzling combinations, in varying intensities, with different inflections, and even in numerous languages (German, Russian, Turkish, English, Latin, Hebrew). These NEC passengers were from all over the world – China, the Philippines, Turkey, Indonesia, California, New York, even Arkansas. Yet they could coordinate their noises perfectly. Second, they can break into song over just about anything: “Ye-e-e-sss, we’re getting on the bus for the tenth time today-ay-ay-ay!” (Please, I’m a motorcoach, thank you.) And thirdly, they were mostly considering other pursuits when someone else heard them singing and said, “Wow, you should really do something with that!” mezzo Soprano, Pauline Tan, for example, was studying political science at the University of the Philippines when her father said, “Pauline, you like to sing . . .” Next thing she knew, Pauline was in Boston at NEC. By such strange unintentionalities these folks came to be making wondrous intentional noise together.

Their impact? Now I can’t stop noticing all the noises I make without any intention at all, just in the course of being me: accelerating, shifting, washing my windshield, using my blinkers, and so on. I’m surprising myself with new noise identifications even when I am sitting still with my engine off.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Here I am outside Grace Episcopal Cathedral, one of the venues where my singing passengers performed.

Here is my tribute to the New England Conservatory choir. I’m calling this My High Note selfie. I got way up there on that one, on the eastern façade of the Sprint Center in KC. It’s a music venue. The signage bragged that someone named Miranda Lambert was performing that night. I wonder if she amazes like my singers.

And here we all are, the singers and their ride, outside of The Roasterie, a KC coffee classic.

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

CORNFIELD NEWS: In 1856 the steamboat Arabia was carrying 400 barrels of Kentucky bourbon as well as other cargo destined for general stores in more than a dozen towns on the frontier. After hitting a submerged tree, the Arabia sank to the depths of the Missouri river. Over the years following the demise of the Arabia, the Missouri gradually changed its course. Gradual change became substantial change. And when the Arabia was rediscovered in 1988, it was in a farmer’s cornfield some 500 yards from the banks of the Missouri. Today, the Arabia is a museum in the City Market of downtown Kansas City, where its fascinating story is told and its many well preserved artifacts are on display.

MODERN NEWS: “O wow, its so modern!” exclaimed one of the choir members as we approached downtown Kansas City. “What did you expect?” responded Erica, the choir director and tour leader. “Well, wooden fences and cows and tumbleweed.”

So, for anyone else out there who is unfamiliar with this portion of America’s heartland, here are a few news items about Kansas City. First off, it is in Missouri (another thing that seemed to stump several of the passengers from the East Coast). Kansas City is the 29th most populated metropolitan area in the U.S. Home to three professional sports franchises, more than two dozen colleges and universities, and over 200 fountains, Kansas City has more boulevards than Paris, and more barbeque restaurants (per capita) than any other city in America. Kansas City has over 220 parks; and its largest, Swope Park, is over twice the size of New York City’s Central Park. And yes, Kansas City still hosts an annual shindig called the American Royal, the livestock show that’s been running since 1899.

NUMBER NEWS: One of the reasons I am still getting to know the sounds of me is that I am 2018 new. I am Two Eight One, the largest number-value name in our fleet. In case you don’t know, in motorcoach families, that means you’re the youngest (or, the latest addition to the garage).

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

The NEC choir. And here’s how you can do it. If you are traveling through Boston, swing by the New England Conservatory. There are over 1000 free concerts on campus (open to the public) every year. That means on any given day you can drop by and know there are several options for free phenomenal live performances.

Cuisine from around the world and stores found nowhere but here, the City Market in downtown Kansas City is where the Bostonians chose to spend their free time each day of their tour. And thanks to the trolley and bus systems, you can get nearly everywhere in KC from there.

Quote Of The Day samples

“Please help others rise. Greatness comes not from a position, but from helping to build the future. We have an obligation to pull others up.” – Indra Nooyi

“A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence.” – Leopold Stokowski