On The Road: The adventures of the band I Am They, as told by Stephanie Liana Kulla

Hello,
My name is Stephanie Liana Kulla, and this is my sad attempt to record the adventures of the band I am they, as we head off on our first tour with The Rock and Worship Roadshow. Please excuse my grammar, spelling, and run-on sentences, as this blog is purely a documentation of my stream of consciousness. I feel it is better that way... it is better to be raw, unbridled, and honest.... then to not. (If anyone gets that reference, please text me and we can have a laugh about it) (775)315-8922

So anyway... here goes nothing,
be gracious kind reader, and know, that you are missed, loved, wanted and beautiful, I know all of these things to be true.


As life takes it's twists and turns, we have come to another bend in the winding road that is our path, our journey, our tale to tell. I am they is hitting the road for our first national tour. All very exciting stuff, no? We were sent off with a bang in the form of a going away party thrown by the fantastic parents of Stephanie Kulla. After saying our goodbyes; bittersweet, heart wrenching, tear filled goodbyes, we left home at 4 am. All sleepy eyed and foggy headed, the six members of I am they took to the highways, speeding through vacant desert and crowded speedways, we raced to Arizona. Staying the night with friends, eating Thai food, and drinking tea, we slept soundly, leaving again before the sun had peaked over the red rocks of that toasted horizon.
The hours seemed to soar by (for those who were not driving) the time filled with sweet sleep, trail mix, reading and good conversation. We made our way to Texas, driving through New Mexico for a short time as well. We experienced the smells and sights of Texas's cow pastures. Stopping to eat a 72 ounce steak was part of the plan, but time was not with us, so the alternative was a cracker barrel that was minutes from closing. Guilt ridden we entered and begged for food, and of corse, since we were is Texas, we were welcomed in with big open arms. The night was spent in Amarillo. Waking up, we headed to a city of blues and history, Memphis. Again, the day was filled with long stretches of dessertness, trees and trucks rushed by, hours were spent till the evening was upon us. We found ourselves arriving at a mansion, a glorious brick estate. The home of a heart surgeon and his wife, they offered up room upon room, with gracious hospitality. Sleeping atop 18th century vintage bed frames and washing our faces in front of hundred year old mirrors, we rested well that night, fear not. We woke up to homemade quiche and fresh fruit, the most wholesome breakfast thus far, we were sad to say goodbye to that grand house and sweet people. We spent the first half of our day walking around Memphis with a local friend. Seeing where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot, and the museum of civil rights that was erected in that spot, roaming the streets of downtown, eating expensive lunch, and walking along the great Mississippi, it was a day well spent without a doubt.

And finally, after three long days of driving, we headed into Nashville. We were filled with excitement and exhaustion as we approached the city, but our hearts were filled with a sense of coming home when we saw the rolling hills, white fences, and far reaching trees of this music city. The thoughts and memories of all of the steps it took for us to get to this point, to the time we would be here to start our first tour, it all flooded our brains, and we were overcome.
We arrived at our host home... a two bedroom apartment, containing two fluffy bunnies, and two full grown humans. We tumbled in with all of our extra large suitcases, blankets and pillows. Two on the floor, one on the couch, three in the room on bunkbeds, there were no more monkeys jumping on the bed. We slept as well as we could despite our rabbit allergies and kinked necks, we were thankful for the hospitality and kindness of our hosts, as they graciously welcomed our entourage with open hearts and arms.
We spent a few days hanging out around Nashville. Visiting friends, eating great BBQ, and spending time with each other. Trying to prepare, as much as we could, for the tornado that was our quickly approaching future. We had our rehearsal, and it went very well. Walking into the warehouse and looking at the stage set up with all of the lights and speakers all the way up to the roof, we were shocked, nervous, and throughly ecstatic. This is really happening, it is a real thing that we did not make up, and couldn't have if we tried.
And now I come to you on the eve of our leaving this home away from home, to TRULY start our tour. Tomorrow we head to Dallas Texas. We will be braving the ice storm that has come down so hard, and so conveniently, right in our line of trajectory. But with a few adjustments, and Raul's chaining up the tires on our van, we hope to make it there safely.

Until next week,
I remain honestly and bluntly,
your bloggist,

Stephanie Liana Kulla