A NOTE FROM SUSANNE SPIRIT

Hello! For over a year, I have been playing at least two days a week and most Holidays mostly at the TA-East or West, two of the largest USA truck stops, in Ontario, California meeting many, many drivers and their families and friends, and each show has brought such different and interesting experiences which is how and why creating this series happened. Michael Twamley, my fiancée and sound engineer and I would leave one of these truck stops saying to ourselves “Oh, I wish we had today on film, to share these moments with the world".
We have done the music different ways. I have brought out bands and had several guest artists come out. Other times I perform solo with either my guitar or piano. The audience is funny - they like me, and even better if I miss a note or something. No artist will ever have a better audience. And, I know I have a special connection to these folks.
Our learning curve by doing these “concerts” constantly has prepared us in all imaginable ways to now be able to share it with the world. Michael put together a wonderful sound system for us to use at the truck stops that includes a 24 Track mixer. The quality we have is amazing, considering the noise factors we have had to overcome. And, we just bought our own GL2 Canon Camera. So we are ready!!!

A few of my private thoughts:

A thousand stories are told in the pictures of the broken souls or a man of hard labor. These are the dreams on our highways. Each person holds a world of morals, integrity, truthfulness or fantasy reality only trying to be better than he stands . . . trying to evolve . . . trying to be remembered. These are our “Highway Warriors”

Collage of Shots such as the American flag, the little red truck that children love, neon glitter signs, arcades that lures a person's adrenaline, and the sun drenched wrinkles of the men and women of the road, sweat of workers, a dog riding proud with his partner, the signs of many American companies and license plates from every state, the convoy lights, homemade pie made with Crisco, Coca Cola, the essence of the American dream, charge this powerful look into the hearts of our unconscious troopers. Who drive for hours – one white line after another – on our Highways. Where are they going? Where?

These strong individuals stand torn between pleasure and responsibility, family life and the road, loyalty or freedom while experiencing the struggle in all “Common” man. Men worn out, hungry, exhausted mentally and physically, then sparkle when they see there is entertainment, and know I am there that day and can hear my music. Workers become proud. Life comes back . . . their faces change . . . hope and peace take place. They are with their friend again and can relax and enjoy the afternoon.

“I writ ya’ a song, Susanne".

A driver phoned me today, He wrote a song for me to sing, I give out my phone number to many of them. No one has ever abused it. Anyway, this kind man told me at one of my performances a few months ago he always wanted to be a songwriter. He went to his truck and came back with a song he wrote maybe twenty years ago. The words were just awesome, about trucking. I told him to keep writing and that if he wrote a “girl” song and it was good, maybe I could sing it. ”Your heavenly voice is always in my mind so I writ ya’ a real purrty song, hopefully for ya’ to sing” he said this morning. I told him to copyright it, and send it to me. I asked him if he had a digital video camera . . . and maybe he could talk to me telling me about this song and his other one and maybe sing how he hears them played. I think we may have our first “On the Road” Host. This man found his dream again. I felt so great as we said goodbye. I knew he was smiling, as he was “about to approach Albuquerque, on his way to New York. Many people as did this man grow as they become involved in the concerts or feel someone actually cares about them and what they do. These individuals change as Conditions Change, becoming inspired, taking risks and not even caring if they fail! I try to listen to all of them I meet, at least for a few minutes.

Choices of behavior between man’s human side and his underlying turmoil and desires take on new meanings as I experience individuals nurture their wonderful kind and loving side as they realize some one cares. The evolution of morality appears showing the caring side they know exists in them that have become lost in the daily struggle of survival, especially if it stands important to them to impress someone, like a girl.

So what is it really like to be a trucker?

I don’t’ know as I have never driven a big truck but I do know he drives, he thinks, he dreams and imagines, and when you meet him you can tell he is lonely. A waitress who smiles nicely to him becomes a potential mate and a reason to drive alone for the entire night on an empty highway after little sleep.
An act of kindness, as I always try to be, by anyone gives the trucker encouragement to “Keep on Truckin” with him saying “I’ll be Truckin’ for ya baby". The CB and his radio with a Radio show host like David Nemos who caters to the truckers are his only connection to the real world as he travels along the road, as are my songs and my words.
Love happens instantly and most of these men and women exist in a world of near fantasy. I always let everyone know, “I’m already in Love”. I have to be careful with my friendliness not to create “hope” for something more, as these steel-hearted avuncular folks are fragile! But, once they are in a relationship they are loyal as their mind creates a bond of trust and love that I have not seen in many hearts.
If married, the woman at home or traveling with him is his reason to endure his tedious life. She handles the money. Many a man has said to me “My wife is my finance department.” His checks go home; he may never see any of the money he earns. And rarely do any of the married ones “come on” to me or other women.

Those that are married certainly don’t get to see much of their loved ones. A phone is the only link he has to them, and rarely is there a seat to sit down in while he talks to his family. Cell phones have made this process easier, and computers, but both those items only really work when the drivers are parked or in a metro area.

And, wife, no wife or if he has six women on the road, husband or no husband, these people help the homeless, feed strangers, and just basically will give the shirt of their back to someone in greater need. I see it in action day after day. Amazing the morality and spirituality I see that exists in most of these driver’s hearts.

Most of the drivers are not caught up in the seediness side and the mobile Christian centers and their meetings are always crowded. There is something for everyone. It is like a big carnival show.

A Brief History on Me:
I graduated from UCLA’s School Of Theatre, Film and TV in spring of 1995 with honors and many accomplishments, including producing several fullscale musical theatre and film productions, but I come from years with an eighth grade education. Being un-educated is not a crime, it is a situation for most people. I have such passion for these hard workers. And for me making sense of things that touch my soul fulfills my life. I cannot give them an education, but I can use mine to better those less fortunate than me and those that were so good to me when I had nothing.
Even though each show will have a theme, the productions should not have a focus on political issues, from the law to public opinion, but rather on the frustration that lies in the souls of these truckers as they wonder at the world around them and tell their stories. Our viewers will “GET IT!!” Then effective change and progress can happen.
Of course, every now and them, a girl will give a trucker a little “love” flirt as she rides by a man of the road and these drivers “Ride the Roads” with a lot of spirit and love. I want to find the “Greatness” “Humor” and Gently Heart of these rogue travelers. ?
SO WHERE ARE WE GOING? We intend to film most coverage at the two local TA’s that sit side by side in Ontario, Ca and various other Travelcenters of America as I entertain.

Thank you for helping me to entertain the Highway Warriors, share my music with the world and support these truck drivers and the trucking industry of our nation.

I am ready . . . Are YOU????

Sincerely,

Susanne Spirit

For Further Information Contact WhiteLine Productions, A Greenland Global Entertainment Company.
19430 Dry Gulch Road, The South Forty Estate, Corona South, CA 92881
Phone. 951-279-1134 Fax. 951-737-2717 E.mail: whiteline@greenlandglobal.com