Let the Great Nostalgic Joy Experiment Begin

Packing for a wild adventure to celebrate my fortieth birthday.

May 9, 2023

Amber and Derrick sit next to each other on chairs. Derrick has his arms crossed and is looking slightly away from the camera with an angry expression. Amber looks directly into the camera with no smile and one eyebrow slightly raised. — Photo by Cameron Rice

Darklings,

This Sunday I am turning forty years old, and to celebrate this milestone and what future lies ahead, I’m going back to my roots as a poet, performer, and joy-seeker. Next week I’m hitting the road to go on tour with my friend, Derrick C. Brown, traveling by motorcycle from Tennessee all the way to New Hampshire. For the next two weeks I’ll be writing dispatches from the road and sharing my wild and unpredictable stories with you right here on Substack. It’ll be like you’re in a little sidecar with us on tour!

If you haven’t gotten tickets yet, all the cities and ticket links are below. I would LOVE to meet you in person. Please make sure to come say hi after the show!

Know a friend who would love to hear some poetry? Share this post with them!

The inside of Amber's duffle bag. It has a bottle of Advil, a few pairs of socks, sunscreen, hydration powder sticks, and snack bars.

Packing has just begun! Because we’ll be on a motorcycle, there’s only room for one duffle bag each. It cannot be emphasized enough how much extra socks, electrolytes, energy bars, and Advil will be needed for this tour.

A look inside an open shipping box. Two packages for bluetooth "Helmet Headsets" rest on top of white protective cover for Amber's motorcycle helmet.

A box of motorcycle gear shipped to a friend in Nashville, where our tour starts. Complete with my helmet, motorcycle jacket, and these bluetooth headsets so Derrick and I can communicate while on the road.

A selfie of Amber standing inside. She is wearing a black motorcycle helmet with the visor up, black sunglasses, a black shirt, and black gloves. She gives a middle finger to the camera.

You’re right, the middle finger wasn’t necessary, but the UV ray protection sunglasses, helmet, and wind and rain resistant gloves are!

A mirror selfie of Amber from the neck down. She wears a black motorcycle jacket and blue jeans. She holds her red reading glasses in one hand, the other holds her cell phone which is taking the photo.

Her cool motorcycle jacket for the tour, her reading glasses because her eyesight is getting worse, her high-waisted jeans because low-rise should be illegal, her AirPod case safely latched to her belt loop so she doesn’t misplace them: This Is What (almost) 40 Looks Like.