'Scuse me, but I'd like to revive this thread for a very special reason. During the hours this past summer while so many of us held our breath as rescue workers drilled their way to those trapped miners, I promised myself no more procrastinating on a promise I made myself years ago, called Helen, and flew north for a long weekend of collecting some of the mining songs, hymns, and nonsense stuff that she's never recorded.
    When she asked why I wanted to do it, I responded that while I may not have a long future of singing ahead, my 27-year-old daughter recently blew me away doing one of Helen's spirituals, and is really coming into her own as an a capella song leader. So, thought I, if I could tape Helen and pass the songs along to my daughter, it would carry the music to a nuther whole generation.
    So we had an absolutely fantastic weekend, and the tapes I brought back are replete with her comments, as well as her singing (and occasional piano), and the frequent milling about of her very friendly dog and four cats! One of the highlights was Sunday brunch with a group of Helen's friends who've also settled in the area, including Norman Kennedy.
    And as far as her owning a computer, when I asked if she had an email address, she responded, "I don't even own a typewriter!" She is a real gem!