And We Pulled It Off. Six Hours There (Oif) and Eight Hours Home (Oif Oif) but We Saw @KwameAlexander's Barnyard Boogie at the Kennedy in DC

On the drive in, I wasn't sure we'd quite recover, but we did dinner, had a good night's sleep, and the ride to the Kennedy Center in the morning was a breeze. The show was spectacular and Randy Preston has some pipes - the man killed it as the Acoustic Rooster, as did Kanysha Williams as Indigo Bloom. The score was fantastic, costuming out of this world, set amazing, and the love for children an absolute. Nothing made the show better than when the kids were laughing and singing along. Not the kids I brought, but the young ones. Our crew definitely was on the older side.

After the show, we were lucky to be greeted by Kwame and he had to step back a little seeing Abu, Lossine, and Chitunga as their adult selves. Funnier was when the twins pulled down their masks and showed their beards. Alright now. They were just out of high school when they met last. It all flies. They''l be 30 this year. 

I also got a few seconds to chat with Randy between shows (as he had one more to go before the performances come to a close). He truly was astounding and I was beyond impressed with his voice instrument - he should have spent his entire career singing in front of large audiences and working on shows like this. He rocked it.

Then we headed out at 2. Unfortunately my vehicle got all the wrong directions and hit all the traffic. Chitunga went to visit a college friend in DC, but made it back in 6 hours (by avoiding NYC and coming in through the Mario Cuomo Bridge). Will and Jess left 20 minutes before we did and made it by 7:15. We, on the other hand, sat in Delaware way too long, and the George Washington Bridge was impossible. All in all, the 5 hours turned to 8. I was never so glad to get out of a car in my life - Thanksgiving traffic is no joke.

Ah, but as we discussed on the way home...the memory and joy of this trip, especially seeing Kwame again, was absolutely worth it. And we were able to extend Chitunga's birthday a couple more days (which he also enjoyed), with a few more renditions of Happy Birthday.

Today, however, I assign myself rest. That drive did this aging fart in. I am ready to get my soundtrack, from Barnyward Boogie though. I want to sing and dance.

Phenomenal show, and I hope it extends beyond DC and travels the country. 

And I can't wait for the trilogy yet to come.

Now where's my coffee?