I should be ashamed of the "hoosier hospitality" I offered. When my wife heard that I served frozen pizza to guests, she was mortified.

"I did warm it up first" I explained.

She rolled her eyes.

Anyway, BWL and his gracious and genial wife didn't utter a single complaint. Nor did they roll their eyes. They just made their way through the humble offering, and some fresh-brewed iced tea (no sugar!), regardless of having just put in a 10 hour day setting up a pottery booth at the nearby art fair.   They probably could have used a bit better fortification for the upcoming long weekend.

BWL, following such a grueling day of set-up in 90+ degree heat, was still so generous as to make the 25 minute drive down to my humble hovel just so we could meet. I'm glad he did. I haven't had the opportunity to meet many who post here. Of the great number of posters here, BWL is among those I've most wanted to meet.

Interestingly, we never really talked about the mudcat. Though this is how we met, this isn't really what we have in common.

We talked clay and glazes, kilns and firings, potters who influence us, and where we want our pots to be years from now -- I'm now the proud owner of one of his fine pots (it now sits on my shelf, among the pots of other great potters I know) .

We talked wood and wire, songs and lies.

BWL is every bit the genuine soul, the subtle wit, that he appears here. He doesn't waste words. Quiet, really. He seems interested in the pots – but passionate about music…

…and that's a good thing because, other than the pottery, what it turns out we really share is a desire for less chat, more play. And we got down to it. We spent a few hours in my living room…

"you let them go in there?!!!!, my wife said, again horrified. "I haven't swept in there since Ann Arbor (a July show)", she moaned.

"I kept the lights dim" I said.

She rolled her eyes.

Anyway, with his J45, and my HD28 and Flatiron, we made our way through…

Temperance Reel
Kitchen Girl
Arkansas Traveler
Smoke That Cigarette
It's a Sin (to tell a lie)
Cattle In The Cane
Several that BWL introduced me too, and several others.

It was a very enjoyable meeting for me. A true pleasure to meet such a fine and talented man.