You know, Dick managed his recent years very well if you think about what his priorities were. He had some income from Social Security and some from his job, and in spite of constant car troubles, etc, he managed to attend as many musical activities as he could squeeze in, including the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival, the Royal Mile shantey sings, Old Songs, of course the Getaway, and i-dont-know-how-many other events. In recent years he had access to a computer at his apartment complex; prior to that, he would phone Bill and ask him to get details on upcoming festivals.

His musical abilities deteriorated -- yes, they did -- due to deafness, and he was maddening because he wouldn't accept or acknowledge his limitations. But his singing improved after he got a decent hearing aid, which is why, I guess, I felt he was getting better -- sometimes -- at the Open Sings.

A few times at Open Sings, usually after a ballad, Dick would tell me I had done a very good job on a song. I felt like I that was high praise indeed. (Rare praise, too.... Encouraging comments weren't Dick's style for the most part, he was likelier to offer a boisterous comment on your song's history or lack of authenticity or some such thing as soon as the last note sounded.)

RF