Transformation and Changing Course

Thank you to all who have been writing. Your words of support, inspiration and solidarity mean so much to us as we travel this holy road h*Ome. Below is the letter we sent out to our friends and family in Missouri. Sometimes I think, or perhaps I remember, that Holy Road Freedom Songs was a bridge that I built in order to reach you, in order to fulfill an agreement I made long ago. I have also posted a video that Baba made (a collection of photos from the last two years), and some loving responses from those of you who have been moved to respond to our e-mail. Thank you! X=h/m, your artist in life and song, Lizzie and Dharma Dog

To our Missouri community,
Thank you for helping us grow. Over the last two years, we moved from New York City to Columbia in hopes of better knowing the heart of our country. We're so happy we did that. Being part of a smaller community and exploring the true culture of our country's heart has been absolutely inspiring.

Since moving to Columbia in 2006, we bought a Victorian house in the North Village on Saint Joseph Street, work shopped our new musical, toured around the country a few times, hosted potlucks, recorded music, opened our house to the public, embraced local artists, hosted some national artists, and produced a few fun events. In the meantime, we started a non-profit and then realized we were better artists than we are non-profit directors. Wow, what a journey!

We have made some great friends in Columbia and want to take this time to thank the whole community for embracing us, especially those who volunteered with us on various projects. Over the last two years we have seen a lot of communities around this country. We can sincerely say that Columbia is one of the most exciting and active pockets in the nation.Though it is now time for us to move east again, we will always think of Columbia as our first home together. After all, it is the majestic location of our marriage, which took place last fall along the Missouri River. Thank you Columbia, for being home to us in the happiest chapter of our lives so far. We believe in this vibrant town and hope to continue to grow with Columbia as the years go on. We leave with gratitude in our hearts and look forward to visiting soon.

To see a brief online slide show of collected shots from our two years in Columbia, click here. For anyone interested in buying The Holy Road House at 214 Saint Joseph Street, you can view the listing by clicking here and contact Brent Gardner at brentg@remax.net. It has a fresh new face and is available to look at by appointment. We sincerely hope the house will find an owner who is also committed to helping the Columbia Arts community grow.

Your artists on the holy road,
Lizzie West, Baba Buffalo and The Dharma Dog
Happy Halloween!

Lizzie and Baba--
This is a beautiful and heartfelt thanks...and had to be a bit hard to write as well. Perfect pitch, perfectly sincere...and, I believe, the right decision for you at this point in your work. I will be with you to the end of my days...and I suspect most of your fellow Columbians will be, too.
Much love...miss you, and hope for a reunion soon—here or there.
Xoxo, MK

****


Oh, Lizzie, Baba & Dharma-Dog,

What a sad moment. Columbia will miss you immensely.

I am filled with gratitude that you called me that day a year or so ago, and that I was able to take part in even a tiny bit of the wonderful energy of your place - and to have been privileged to share in your boundless creative energy. It still inspires me. I am also filled with regret that after my building fell through, that my job in Iowa kept me out of touch for so long, and then that it took me so long to get my feet under me afterwards. Believe it or not, I was emailing Blake to get back in touch with ya'll and to find out what was happening at the house when I got your message. I have entered into negotiations with another developer and am trying once again to get Theatre NXS on its feet, and I am so sorry that you won't be here to be a part of that as well.

Mostly I am very grateful to have gotten to know you, even a little bit, and to have been blessed to be present at some of your private performances, which never failed to blow me away. You are fantastic artists, and become possessed by your music in a way that all artists dream of finding. Thank you so much for your assistance and encouragement with TNXS, and who knows, maybe next time you come through here I can provide you that venue we were hoping for last spring.

May the Holy Road bless you and all of your endeavors. And I sure look forward to seeing you - and hearing you - the next time.

BTW, great job in Chicago. Do keep me on your mailing list. Thanks for everything.

LR

Hi Lizzie,
I'm writing you in regards to your travels. It was a blessing to have met you, may God be with you in your move. It is encouraging to see an empowered woman who fights for what she believes in. When my soul was in despair a few years ago, your Holy Road album helped save it.
Hannah Robbins

*****

Lizzie,

I guess I want to take this opportunity to let you know how influential you have been in my life even way before we ever met. Holy Road Freedom Songs spoke to me. You set some kind of reachable bar, a dream within grasp for some of us that were searching...I signed up to be a Kicker. I *wanted* to play, I wanted to explore, I wanted to be strong and to be me, or who I thought I wanted to be.

But I had no idea...

I had no idea that you would come back into my world years later and continue to inspire, even if it was often painful, often challenging, often more complex than I was comfortable with. Our relationship, you and I, I felt was clouded with your mystery. I was often frustrated by the shroud of your past, and just wanted to connect with you somehow on some other level.

I don't think it happened in any way that I ever imagined, and yet you continued to encourage me to face my depths and all it's possibilities. You kicked-started a ball rolling that just hasn't stopped for me. Maybe not you personally, but your exploration, your delivery, and your relentless pursuit for facing obstacles head on.

*****

Ever so kind of you the message thank you. My life has been immeasurably enrichened by your kind friendship. Please come out and play any time, and bring your two humans with you, I always get a kick out of them, they always make me laugh and smile, and they make great music together too! ;>] There is another little one-eyed doggy out here who would make a great new friend as well!

I am back from South America deep in the land of the southern white vote. I'm not far from Selma and I'm thinking about going up there on Super Tuesday. Selma is where they cut loose with the hoses and vicious dogs during the civil rights march. Alabama swung for Obama by a wide margin in the primaries.....pretty powerful historic stuff going on down here.

Keep in touch....love.....cptkrk
--
if you don't create y*Our reality, y*Our reality will create you