Hugs are always o.k. bbc!

And - having lost Vaughn in December - I valued every one of you whom I managed to see (and everyone I missed) more even if it was hard now and then. As fractious as we are, this folk-whatever is a very special community.

When Tom Paxton accepted his lifetime achievement award from ASCAP at the Folk Alliance, one remark of his struck me: "All I ever wanted was to be a part of this community." Couldn't most of us say the same ?

(And anyone who can be as much of a satirist and gadfly and as gracious - or maybe graceful - as Tom deserves a ruddy lifetime achievement award..at least one)

As Fri night's MC, I value the comments about the feel of the Friday concert, even though my take on it is different. I had a few similar comments at the Festival (and some that went the other way, as well). Mostly with something added to the effect that the second half had more energy.

But sheesh! Think back over that first half: GrooveMama, Margaret AND Meghan MacArthur (whom an awful lot of people loved), Tales and Scales and then Chris and Maire.

My own experience is that Friday gigs just don't take off as fast as Saturday ones. As audience, we're in a different place,and it takes a while to shed our workweek heads. Jeri's remark about having just driven five hours to get there fits here. 's why I've been heard to say my idea of a good Friday gig is playing in a three-chord garage band.

Anyway, remarks heard and valued. Damn, it was fun! -G