Coming at the tail end of five kids spanning 16 years, I learned only a few of the old folk songs, cowboy and otherwise, that we were raised on by our mom and dad.

Having discovered the Mudcat the tail end of last December, I am learning so many more songs and so MUCH more about the whole world of folk.

Today, I received two suprise tapes from Art Thieme of concerts and radio programs he did years ago, before being restricted by MS. I have already received two other tapes from him, plus his latest cd, The Older I Get, The Better I Was. I have been learning a lot of very wonderful sogs from these; songs which fulfill my heart and/or make it ache with an unexplainable longing, a sort of psychic emotional tie to Art, his superb singing and picking, and the songs and tunes themselves and what they are about. These songs will never sond right to me, done by anyone else, because his were the first versions of many of them I've heard.

Anyway, it struck me, today, with all that I am learning, I feel as though I am being tutored or mentored by Art and I marvel at his ability to give so much and his compleat and total selflessness. I will never be able to repay him for the quiet kindness he has shown me and the friendship he has extended. I will be forever grateful.

Thank you, Art.

luvyaKat