Barry--

I am so amazed you wanted to hear me sing. I remember last year or maybe 2 years ago when the late-night session was in full chantey mode--and you were just peeling the wallpaper off with one chantey after another (I still especially really love the Yangtse River one) ---and I was so intimidated I couldn't imagine trying to follow you. I just hoped you'd keep singing them all night--and I just about got my wish.

I suppose it boils down to--anybody can be shy about performing--and it's really hard to think about leading a song as not including at least an element of that. I suppose that's why I like harmonizing so much--it helps the sound but you're not personally on the spot.

It's also a factor that a lot of the songs I most like to sing are in fact British songs--and I suspected strongly that all we had to do was wait and some of the UK contingent would sing them. But I was only partly right about that.

Oh well, I keep telling Jan to never assume anything---and I should take my own advice.

Anyway, it was great to hear you sing--and especially to hear how your voice strengthened throughout the weekend. Hope you're back to 100% soon. Nobody does those chanteys with as much vigor and excitement as you.