Monday, November 9, 2026 — Nashville, Tennessee

My last full day in Nashville started with a very ambitious plan: doing the laundry. A broken machine, a failed repair, and another laundromat that was open but somehow closed turned that simple task into an ongoing adventure. Meanwhile, my attempt to secure a Bluebird Cafe open mic spot ended almost as quickly as it began. Some days, your plans just don’t cooperate.

But then I took my bicycle to 3rd & Lindsley, and the day changed.

In a room full of people really listening, I watched songwriters share their music and the stories behind it. A few songs moved me deeply. I was reminded how much happens before the first note: an introduction can open a door and bring you inside someone’s world.

Listening to all those songs about love and heartbreak, I kept thinking about our need to connect. We spend so much of our lives reaching toward one another. When those connections break, it hurts. And then music comes along to help us recognize ourselves in someone else’s story, to comfort us, to bring us together.

That feeling stayed with me through my work calls. Despite the morning’s frustrations, I felt a positive energy and a real pleasure in connecting with my team.

The evening brought another kind of connection: dinner and hours of conversation with a wonderful artist and person I’ve met here. Later, we made music together and came up with a tune I really liked. She also gave me a book of poetry—a lovely gift, and perhaps a way to keep sharing thoughts across the miles.

Nashville has opened a door for me. I can imagine returning with ten songs, spending a week in a studio, and collaborating with some of the remarkable people who make music here.

Maybe one day. For now, what a beautiful way to spend my last evening.