Hi Barb, great post. Nope, wouldn't enter a contest for love nor money. If yer good, ya know it...if yer not ya should know it.

All the competition does is make people uneasy. And I've never seen ONE (I backed up a lot of fiddlers who LIVE through contests) where all the contestants thought the judges knew what they were doing. Same with performers jockying for spots at the Folk Alliance etc. Just seems to "hat in hand" for me.

On the other hand, had I been in your position, I'd have availed myself big time re: the "gluttony" sin.

Hope all is well. You are wonderful folks and we think of you often.

Rick