I've been lurking this thread(s) since the beginning and everyone has just been great. Most of the groupings in this area are so structured or dominated...I tried but in most cases it was a pain in the ass. When I met Rick at Niagra we talked some about this scene around here in Columbus and around Ohio, and I told him a bit about how I'd changed tacks on selling my dulcimers. For me, there is NOTHING much worse than a dulcimer fest (hammered or Appalachian) because the entire bunch is so wrapped up in "Instrument Zen"......I can't go on, just drives me nuts. I do have some friends amongst them, but they get to feeling the same way and I have no idea why any of us ever go.....and anymore, we mainly don't.

But last night I stopped by a thread requesting lyrics to "Stealin'"(back to my same old used to be) that triggered some semi-suppressed memories.......Suppressed because they were too good, not painful. I was reminded of a time and place long past and the camaraderie and fun that filled all of us in that time, in that place. Being a 'Catter has brought me much joy, so I spent today "morosely happy" or "joyfully sad," remembering the then, but loving the now. Ferrara mentioned a sing around in DC and I truly expect that the best of what I've read here will happen and not the worst......Hell, we're MUDCATTERS and I would expect no less. We've come to know each other in such a way that once again I might be able to bring back that feeling from so long ago.

Sent Big RiB a message and in his reply he said that he's so wound up and excited about the FSGW, and his expectations are so great, nothing could live up to it........I know how he feels...but I think he's wrong.

Spaw