This note is just appreciation for the prompt assistance in resolving a minor issue regarding the retrieval of my instruments from one of the check rooms.

Sunday evening after I had left the Exhibition Hall Dance-O-Rama event where I had been sitting in on washboard with some friends from Portland (Bayou Cadillac) I headed for the instrument check facility at the hospitality room. At about 10:05 when I approached the area to retrieve my instruments I noticed that the sign on the door read closed at 10:00pm. I guess I hadn't noticed the sign when I was there earlier dropping the stuff off because so many others were there doing the same. I felt compelled to just get out of the way of the next person in line. There were still three of the folks inside the area, but they seemed intent on leaving, and indicated that they were not willing to return my instruments because they were officially closed. I was a little dismayed by this at first, but I realized that after the long hours that the folks there had put in, they were probably as tired as I. I was about to leave for the evening when a friend indicated that perhaps a man standing nearby could help. (Sorry, I can't remember his name. He was tall and dark haired.) When I explained to the tall dark stranger that I was just five minutes late of their closing, and had just arrived from being on stage, he pointed to the last remaining staff person near the check room and said that he was the one to talk to. I quipped, "Oh passing the buck eh?" Then he went over to the staff person and introduced himself as being one of the event coordinators, (my ears perked up) and asked if the staff person could help those of us who were in need of checking out our instruments. A line began to immediately form of those who were apparently in the same fix as I. I thanked the tall dark stranger for his help.

One exciting moment for me last weekend happened after I had finished performing a set in the Alki Room. It seemed as though every performer that was on the stage before me was absolutely stellar, so I was a little on edge. For example, the woman performing just before I was to play was young and beautiful with long flowing blonde hair and a voice like an angel, and that's no exaggeration. As I sat and listened to her I was stunned and wondered what I could possibly do to follow such an act. The contrast would have been like day and night (my show being the night part). That's why I was floored when folks just seemed to walk away from her performance. So many left the immediate stage area that it was nearly void of anyone by the time I was ready to play. I began my first song, "I'll Do Anything To Make A Buck" and a few more folks gathered. As I often do, I introduced my resonator guitar as being homemade and included an explanation of the various items (junk) I used in it's construction. Before I had finished my set there was quite a group that had wandered over to listen. I was happy for the attentive smiles but I figured they had just happened by to see someone following me.

When I was stepping down from the stage a woman who was seated right up front during my show approached and introduced herself. She was the granddaughter of one of the Dopyera brothers. (the inventors of the resonator guitar) I was in shock for a moment, and when I regained composure I noticed she was wearing a button that read, "Got Dobro". She suggested that I needed a good Quarterman cone in my guitar and I informed her that I had one in there already. I then began explaining in more detail some of my design alterations and managed to hand her a business card.

Wouldn't it be grand to get a call back.

"Yes Mr. Miles we're hoping to have you fill a position in our research and development staff."

A fellow can dream. ;0)