Simone blog: Greetings from Warsaw, Poland!

Hi Everyone!! Greetings from Warsaw, Poland.

After a 3 hour delay and a 9 hour flight, I am operating on fumes. Wanted to take a moment to share with you the events of the last 24 hours while it's still fresh.

Met Angelique Kidjo and Diane Reeves for the first time at the airport yesterday. Lizz and I already know each other from the last SING THE TRUTH (STT) concert we did at Carnegie Hall. She's still as cool as she was then, an Old Soul. And like her voice, a warm glowing spirit.
Angelique came in to the lounge like a fireball of energy!! She's tinier than the rest of us in stature, me running a close second, but that's the only tiny thing about her. She is vibrant and overflowing with positive energy - she will bowl you over if you're not secure with yourself - and leave you breathless wondering "who was that amazing African Sistah?"

Diane is beautiful, elegant, grounded, and in her element. She made me feel welcome from the first syllable she spoke and her smile lights up the room. We all got a chance to get to know each other during the 3 hour delay..... and it was all natural as we shared, laughed, and ate together. If the synergy we have offstage is any indicator, the shows are going to be OFF THE CHAIN!!!!!!!

Feels good to see my "Uncles/Godfathers" Al Schackman, Leopoldo Fleming and Chris White. I met Paul Robinson as an adult while active duty and visiting Mommy in France in the early, early 90's, and Jeremy Berlin, who'll be playing piano at rehearsal the other day. All the musicians are with us and when we recreate mom's music together it's like an old comfortable shoe that I'll never throw away. With the exception of Jeremy and Chris, everybody was onstage at the Guiness Blues Festival when Mom and I did Music for Lovers together, track #1 on SoS. And, my daughter was 6 weeks old.

I was a bit taken aback when a passenger approached me on the plane with pen and article in hand in hopes of getting an autograph. When I saw the article had 3 pictures and mine was not among them, I told him my autograph was not one he was seeking. On the one hand it's nice to see the excitement surrounding our performances celebrating my mother, Nina, yet at times like this I still have to remind myself I'm not chopped liver....... I am in the company of some amazing Divas who have toured throughout the world. I am the unknown, the "daughter" of a Legend. Well, I won't be unknown for much longer and I am confident there will be 4 pictures soon enough. I think of our President Barack Obama, a lot of people didn't know him either - not anymore.

Forgive me, but I have a new MAC (I switched from PC) and my facebook has not been allowing me access, so I cannot answer your comments (YET). I just mastered Skype today and will get around the block on Facebook as soon as I can. Until then, I will continue to blog as we travel and share with you my experiences along the way.

Look at that, 3 blogs in the last 2 weeks, I think? Not bad.

I do hope all of you are well.

Stay that way!

Simone