For a long time I've thought of my folkie friends as 'family'. They're different sort of family from my blood family, but 'friends' doesn't go far enough in saying what they are. I know with certainty, that if I had a crisis or needed anyone there would be not just one or two, but lots of them who would, without hesitation, drop what they were doing and come. I know with certainty that they support and love me and I, in turn would do almost anything for them. I know they would love, protect and look after my children if anything happened to me and that that would be fine because most of them have the same basic values and beliefs as me to pass on to them.

Since I discovered Mudcat, that feeling has intensified, and I never cease to be amazed at how much love and support one can get from people one has never actually met. If I have problems or feel really low, I can actually feel myself cushioned from it by knowing that they are all there and would send me caring messages if they knew how I felt.

Amos is right, there are a few renegade cousins among them, but mostly I feel that my life has been incredibly enriched, firstly by my involovement with the folk world generally, and secondly by my involvement on Mudcat.

This is getting horribly syrupy and sentimental!
I love you all...well...mostly all...

Love Lynne