Hi Naemanson, it may have just snowed here last night but there ain't dark cloud in the sky. There was no way in hell that I could've volunteered myself in a physical way this year as I had in the past but I sure they all know that they're always welcome to my voice. Meg called the house the other day & Justine filled her in on my condition & it must've gotten around cause I last night received a very long & nice letter from Julie Moulton who was always kind enough to put up with lously jokes while on her clock. I will be there this year just not as a volunteer, for years I've always concidered Mystic as my vacation time that, this year that's changing, after this ordeal the whole family wants to go on a vacation so Mystic will just be my piece of cake (unless the kids want to come too).

Hi Chanteyranger, part of the above mentioned vacation will be us visiting my wife's 2 sisters in SanFrancisco but I like to arrange it around the week of your shanty sings & any other music haappenings. We'll probably be headed your way the week following Mystic & spend a week in SanFrancisco & a week in the Hawaiian Islands but those 2 weeks can be taken either way depending on music. I'd also be looking to hook up with RiGGy, it's been way to many years since we've sung together. I'd also want to meet up again with Richard & the Swan I've met & the one I haven't along with yourself & Joe Offer & the many other catter's that I haven't met out from around your way. Anyway let me get better first.

Also in the works after I'm out've here (with all this I'd better get better) "Finn & Haddie" were planning to go into the studio & record a CD but I just spoke with some of the people from the New England chapter of the American Liver Foundation & we may end up recording live using the proceeds from the concert to benifit the Foundation, we'll see?

Wow John, it's been nearly 20 yrs, with all our folk bickering it's a wonder we haven't both been shot by now. Anyway as you can see it's always a silk purse from the cow's ear.
Again thank you all for your support & cards & posts you can't imagine how much this helps me to keep a light in my eyes & a smile on my face. And Sinsull thanks ever so much for the "Salt Water Ballads" by Mansefield

"I must down to the seas again to the vagrant gypsy life
To the gull's way & the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow rover
And a quiet sleep & a sweet dream when the long trick's over"