I remember my first year at this astounding event. A number of Mudcatters were there for the first time, including Dani, Annamill,Allan C and Jeri. There were other Mudcatters who had been there before such as Marge and Roger (in Baltimore), Dick Greenhaus, Susan of the DT, Caroline and Sandy Paton, Kath Westra, and of course, my first Mudcat friend, Barry Finn. The Getaway was just a bit different then. For example, everyone was expected to do an hour in the kitchen with Debbie McClatchy. Oddly enough, I miss that. I remember peeling spuds and teaching songs to Anna and Honey. In retrospect, it was an important ingredient to being a part of it all. I remember driving home with the rent money spent on CD's from Folk Legacy (Camsco wasn't owned by Dick at the time), singing songs, and becoming absolutely committed to sharing this wonderful event with others. I remember thinking about all the threads that suggested we have gatherings, and realizing that these were tailor made to that aim. I especially remember the instantaneous acceptance and warm feelings that Knitpick, karen k, Lorraine, Carly, Songster Bob, Charley Baum, and others gave to a stranger. This was, for me, like my friend Giok's and Skarpi's experience this year. I knew that I had to have more of this magic, and so set out to encourage others. A number of those that were there told how wonderful it was, and how it wasn't to be missed. We have kept that up, and over the years have met folks that I consider beloved friends. This gathering has become a treasure to be had for the price of travel to it, and the cost of the entry fee. A bargain for the ages.

For those that came, I would hope you would reflect on the priceless beauty of these memories. I would hope you would pass these memories on to your friends, children, and loved ones. In this way, these memories become part of the folk tradition, just as they did for Woody, Odetta, and the others in the mountains of California. While we may not have their notoriety, nonetheless these times are just as important. More so, most likely. It is how we perpetuate our beloved music. It is how we immortalize the timeless values of love and sharing love, of friendship, joy, laughter, sadness, memories, all wrapped up in a song. These are the memories we must share.

Dani, in bringing her children, expressed the best of all of this. She shared her love of them with us. She allowed us to see their love of her. And she infected them, even though they may not know it, with a love of the music. We see the same thing with Geoff, Jane, and the Ducklings. Has there ever been a family that one could fall more in love with? This is a lesson that Nancy King learned years ago, and Dan and Ken Schatz are the yield of that sowing.

When you come to Getaway, you get to share music. Hell, Amos Jessup played about every kind of music there is. When you come to Getaway, you get to hear things you didn't expect. I walk in on Friday night and what greets me? Some of the best Uilleann piping I have heard from our own Lorcan Otway (INObu). Then he plays whistles. Then he plays guitar. This man is a talent of the first order. You get to look up and see the Accordian God (Skipjack) sitting with CarolC and the both of them lost in the love of their instrument. Micca with some of the great parodies, Keith playing the great old time, Bobert tearing up the blues. You get to hear our beloved Ebbie, she of the sparkling eyes that mark the entrance to an amazing soul, sing quietly but beautifully. And you meet and share music with KT. KT has a radiance and a beauty about her that is only exceeded by her beautiful voice, and the amazing songs she writes.

I simply must take a moment and tell you that I love Kendall and Jacqui more than I can say. The Captain, despite the fact that we don't see each other often, is a friend of my soul. His life partner, has become beloved to me as well.

I must also tell you that no bigger heart beats than the one in Mary Sullivan's (Sinsull) chest. She is a pearl of great worth, and I adore her.

But most of all, you get to bask in the love and affection of old friends, some of them just met. You get to drive, fly, ride away full of a special feeling that one only gets by being in the presence of those who only want to share that same thing with you. I have made friends here that will be best friends for life. Jeri is like that. She will always be one of the most cherished friends in my life, and I owe that to the Getaway. Tinker, she of the huge heart and sense of love for all, is another of these.

I hate trying to write these, because someone always gets left out. Such is the way of in the moment writing. But if nothing else is gotten from this long rambling post, it is that you need to start making preparation now for next year. It is an experience you will not forget, and that you will tell to young ones when you are in the rocker.

All the best,

Mick