It was the Big Mick's workshop, pretty thoroughly described above, that was the weekend's highlight for me. You've already been told of Sondra Wallace's heartfelt offering of "The Town I Loved So Well," and how deeply it moved me. Add Rita's song of the exploited Italian rice field workers, Dani leading us all in "Deportees," Fred Stollnitz putting his RUS to good use by giving us all of the verses to "Solidarity Forever," and then... Let me tell you folks, Karen K sang a song she's had in her notebook since 1984 and had never sung for us. It was written by her students, with some help from her, of course, when she was teaching a bunch of young kids with emotional and behavioral problems. A song of the Underground Railway, with rain symbolizing slavery, sunshine representing freedom. Karen sang it wonderfully well, and we were able to join in, once we perceived the pattern of repetition. I was blown away! I've known Karen for over 30 years, and never heard her sing with more conviction and confidence.

Other workshops, other informal song circles, etc., were splendid, but the "Struggle" workshop led by Big Mick was, for me, what folk music is really all about.

Sandy