As some of you may know, I am currently touring with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square.  When we go on tour, we require 3 airplanes, 11 buses, 2 luggage trucks, 4 semi-trucks, and 8 support vans.  Apparently, it’s a major undertaking to move 600 people and their luggage, sound equipment, risers, musical instruments, and organ.  (The 600 people include 300 choir members and 100 orchestra members.  The remainder are stage crew, support staff, and a limited number of spouses.  And yes, if your spouse comes along, you have to pay for him or her.  But I digress, as I often do.)  This tour, we are performing concerts in Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Chicago, IL, Milwaukee, WI, Madison, WI, and Minneapolis, MN. 

My wife got to come along on the last tour (two years ago).  She had wonderful experience, even if she did have to listen to the same concert night after night.  She described it as living in the temple for eight days.  I am very grateful that she was able to accompany me on this tour as well. 

Yesterday, we got up at 3:50 AM to board one of the chartered jets.  We flew to Columbus, OH for our first concert.  Needless to say, when we arrived, we were very tired, and possibly not looking our best. (I certainly wasn’t, but that’s not much of stretch.)  Now, the wonderful folks at the airport in Columbus arranged for the busses to meet the planes right on the tarmac so we could bypass the terminal.  Our luggage was transferred from the planes directly to the busses as we walked down the mobile stairs and boarded our assigned motor carriage. 

Our bus drivers are the best.  Most of them request the assignment to drive with the Choir every time we go on tour.  They are courteous and helpful and very friendly.  The driver on our assigned bus is no different. 

However, he left the radio on. 

As we wearily clambered aboard the bus, we were greeted with the melodious strains of AC-DC screeching out, “We’re on a highway to hell!” 

I hope that’s not an omen.