Since this thread was started, I've made three starts at answering Arnie's question, then erased them. But I think this one will take.

Part of the difficulty is as Peter T. said: there's so much to say in answer to this question, it's hard to know how to begin. The other part is how disproportionate his influence on me feels, in relation to the bare reality of how little we knew each other. A couple of years of acquaintance on Mudcat, then about a year and a half in real life: 7 or 8 guitar lessons, and a handful of social visits. In other words, not very much at all. (I know some of you may wish you had had the same opportunity - and you'd be right to - I'm just trying to point out that I wasn't nearly as close to him as I am to my other favourite friends.)

And yet with Rick's gifts and personality, he played as much of a role in my life as friends and relatives I've known many years and spent many hours with. He was in one of my dreams, and I was in one of his. And I too am a member of the Seen-Rick-In-His-Tighty-Whities Club (see Allan and Jeri's posts above).

I learned a lot about music from him, both online and in person, but the biggest influence he had on my musical life was a matter of vision. I can identify with what Jeri and Jed said above about how Rick would liberally tell you his vision for your future in a way that made it seem both exciting and possible. Within the first fifteen minutes of meeting him for the first time, he was telling me that I could and should become a pro musician. This was a life-changing conversation for me; and I spent the next year nursing the idea, seeing everything in a new light. And when I did quit the day job a year later, I'd estimate that 95% of the confidence that powered that decision came from Rick telling me I could do it. I'm not one to toss around the word "empowered" a lot - but it really fits my experience of having Rick as a teacher. I have memories of walking home from lessons buzzed and talking to myself, because of the thrill of a renewed vision. Also, I liked the way that he didn't seem at all fazed the times that I rejected his advice or questioned his sincerity.

When Rick told me (about a year before the fact) that he was expecting to die, he immediately went on to say that he was proud of me for committing myself and doing the work of building a music career. I really wished that he could have seen me "arrived" at some level instead of just "aspiring", and I still wish that.

The last time I saw Rick, it was halfway through my busking tour, when I was back for Christmas. He was clearly disappointed with the quality of my gossip about Mudcatters I had met, so I told him a dirty joke and that made him happy. At the end, I was about to call a cab to take me to the bus station, but he insisted on driving me himself.

Another thing I'd like to mention, though some of you know already: I'm going to be renting a room from Heather when I return to Toronto next week. I feel very privileged to be hanging my guitar on the wall of Rick Fielding's old music room. It's a place with good memories.

Love, Marion (still not playing it loud, but playing it lots)