The 'Cat is in a fine state, thank you very much. We have a solid world wide community that is more than willing to be so much more than a voice in the ether. I remember the days that Roger describes, and it was an enchanting, and heady, time. I remember when Rick came, in fact when many of the regular, and iconic, members came. The Mudcat today is different, but it is still magical. Perhaps it has changed from a movement, to an institution, but even if that is so, the evolution, by and large, has been in a positive direction. During this past month I have experienced the love that is generated on a world wide level in an overwhelming way. In making my Paypal account available to assist open mike, I have seen in a very real way how much each of you is willing to help out a "friend never met" with hard dollars. If those two examples, plus Bruce Murdoch's CD, don't cover the spectrum of what constitutes community, I don't know what does. I remember when we did Rick's CD release party live on CIUT-FM and the community banded together, and because of the live stream, we sold CDs that night around the world, over $500.00 worth. Although I did have to follow Ken Whitely onstage, remind me NEVER to do that again........ ***LOL***.

Forget the naysayers. Look at them like you look at mosquitoes when you live in a beautiful forest, just a part of the price you pay to live in paradise.

We are a community, and we will stay a community. We are diverse, we will occasionally fight or disagree, but we will do it as folks that, when the chips are down, pull together, forget differences, and take care of one another. Take it from one who knows.

All the loving best,

Mick