I'm home! First, I want to thank Catspaw. I was sorry he couldn't come, but at least it sounds like it was good news in the Patterson household this time. I'm thanking you 'Spaw for not making me look so foolish as I might. I posted several times on the 'Cat in the last month that there was no way the Getaway could meet the expectations I was having. And thanks to you 'Spaw, whom I look forward to meeting some day, it didn't. Because I was thought I'd finally meet you there.

BUT in every other way, the Getaway may have exceeded my expectations. Everyone was so wonderful! Every workshop was a joy! For those of you who wonder if these Mudcatters' real-life personalities resemble their on-line personalities, let me tell you that they do. For example, Bruce O. is quiet, but informative (and ever ready to tell you the origin of some song). Thanks to bbc's resource page, we often recognized each other right away. And it did seem like meeting old friends, people whom you know something about, with whom you share common ideas, interests, and experiences. The major differences are the voices and the accents that go with them.

I want to thank Barry Finn, publicly for agreeing to do a Prison Songs Workshop with me. We had never met except here on the 'Cat and we both were going into this blind. But it was wonderful, it went very well and we received some very appreciative reviews from our audience. And Mudcatters, Dan Milner, Bill Day, and Dick Greenhouse all contributed a holler or two. Barry house a wonderful tenor voice that rolls perfectly into shanties and work songs. Thanks, again, Barry.

I will share other experiences as this thread rolls along and as I digest the wonderful time that I've just had. I was headed for bed about the time the informal sessions started. I hear they went from 10:00 PM to past 2:00 PM. Marge and I had to head back for the motel as we have another priority that includes sweet music of its own. (This is a reference to my snoring for those "feelthy" minds out there).

Two last comments. I got to sing more harmony in this last weekend than I probably got to sing all year. What a joy to someone who his still finding his harmony voices.

Lastly, just so you don't think all was wonderful. Marge kept asking me how much the motel cost (she watches the money, you know) and I kept dodging the questions. When we got the to Camp Pleasant in the Prince William Forest Park and got to see the accomodations, she told me she didn't need to know the cost, she was entirely supportive of my decision. Marge has never been camping (not even Girl Scout camp) and the facilities were just one step above tenting. If you like the comfort of home (hot showers, toilets just a step away from the bed, and such) then you would have been disappointed. However, there is nothing like suffering through a day like Sunday, when you just never really get dry, to bring folks even closer together.

Roger in Baltimore