"I love those dear hearts and gentle people," of whom Tom Paxton is definitely one. Though I had heard his music and performed a number of his songs over the years, I had not seen him perform until about three years ago at the University of California San Diego campus. He appeared with Mike Seeger and the dreaded Louden Wainwright III.

I say "dreaded" only because with "Loud," you're never quite sure what happens next. Funny guy. It was a great show by all, including one exceptional blues singer whose name escapes me. Tom and Mike stayed afterward for a long time, chatting, autographing and, of course, selling. Tom was such an approachable and thoroughly likeable person that everyone went home feeling like they had just made a new friend. Perhaps they had.