What's up at Comma Coffee and June speaks

June Joplin has become a fixture in Carson City ever since she opened Comma Coffee 10 years ago. She often sends out e-mails about what’s going on at Coma Coffee, and we usually just pick up what’s coming up there. But this week she offered some personal thoughts that I thought we should share with all of you. So here’s her e-mail. Read and enjoy.

By June Joplin
Fall is in the air. A bit premature in my opinion, but who can argue with such magnificent skies and beauty. Seasons come and go reminding us to pause, and take stock of things. For instance, our lives, our dreams, our immortality, our blessings, and of course so much more. With this particular season comes a flood of emotions and gratitudes for me. Comma Coffee and I are celebrating TEN years together. My goodness, I can remember when I was amazed that I had simply been alive ten years ... now I have lived several more decades, and I celebrate a decade with Comma Coffee and all of her friends and family. I am humbled by the amazing miracle of she and me, and eternally grateful and blessed by all of those that have been a heart of her. Her real birthday is of course, Nevada Day, but I am bubbling over with excitement and giddiness and started celebrating in July, which is the anniversary of my securing the building. Sooooooo, with childish Christmas Eve enthusiasm, let the festivities begin!
THIS WEEK AT THE COMMA
Friday night Sept 3, 8:00pm
"OPEN MIC"
Hosted by the phenomenal JEN SCAFFIDI
Sign ups start at 7:30 and fill up fast so don't be late. This is a fantastic night of taste and talent.
And.....
It's been long enough! After a 6-month break, Bob Reid and I have decided to follow the lead of Garth Brooks, Cher, Rick Moranis, Michael Jordan (twice), and Brett Favre (? times), and come out of retirement. We’ve dusted off the piano, (you may have noticed Comma is sporting a new one) learned a ton of new songs, and reconstituted ourselves as "Me and Bobby McGee". We’ll be performing twice in September.
This Saturday, Sept. 4, 7: p.m. the program will be standards from the Great American Songbook, with many songs new to our repertoire. Gary Lyon will join us on percussion.
Then.... Saturday, Sept. 25, 7p.m. we'll be performing an evening of originals by Bob, and Myself. (this is a very big step for me ...kind of exposing my underbelly) With many guests, including Speedy Garfin, Joe Joe Shelley, Norma Conway & Perry Arnn, and many more. I am very excited about this night, for to me it truly feels like the birth of a new season of life for me, and for Comma. I hope you will join us.
Both events are at 7 PM at Comma Coffee, and both are free.
Thoughts ...
Today ... as I opened the shop, I started down a mental and emotional path to stress and angst brought on by deadlines and daily commitments. Why, I asked myself was I was singing, and building, and running a gift shop, climbing Mt. Whitney, going to Morocco, doing this, and doing that, and on and on ... (thoughts triggered perhaps by a poor night's sleep and the recent irresponsible and impulsive purchase of a cello that I cannot afford) ...yet as I berated myself with whys and so forth, the answer screamed perfectly clear...This is my dream.
I always dreamed of being my own person. I always dreamed of creating a place where people felt loved and connected and welcomed and comfortable and important. I always dreamed of being a black jazz singer. I always dreamed of being the mother of a large family. I always dreamed of this life. (except the black part, that has yet to come true) but WOW! That's a wake up call. How many of us are living our dreams and not enjoying it? not noticing it? How many of you are not living your dreams? We have one go around at this life. For God's sake live it! Embrace it! I am living my dreams. It’s a crazy, overwhelming at times, roller-coaster ride. A sobering reality indeed, but soooooo worth it! I wouldn't change a thing. I wish it for everyone who has a dream. And everyone does ...or so I believe. Anyway, I'm thrilled to be here. In little ol' Carson City Nevada. Celebrating Comma Coffee, Life, mine and yours, family, music, love, passion, creativity, friends, community and dreams.
"Somewhere over the Rainbow dreams really do come true"
Thank you all for believing in my dream.

— Sam Bauman