Hi everybody- Your posts all came in from Nov. 20th to the 23rd, and I was so nervous I barely turned on my computer at all, so just read them today. Now it's all over and I spent all of Friday and most of today, sleeping. It was mostly hip-hop and hard rock of one kind and another, and I kept wondering what the heck I was doing there. They kindly seated me and my guests at Table 1, making it easier for me to get onstage, but SQUARELY in FRONT of the SPEAKERS- my ears were nearly fractured by the time they called me, so I was a little shaky. Tom's dear wife is ill, and another good friend John Platt introduced me, and George, I guess, said a prayer. Our sons Pete and Jon supported me onto the stage and over to to microphone, and we stood for the song. By that time I discovered I was cool and collected, and said a few words about being both a Kentuckian and a Long Islander, having lived longer on L.I. than I had in Kentucky. Got a laugh. We sang without accompaniment, "Now is the Cool of the Day"(not wanting to bore them with a long ballad. I started, then each took a verse and the boys did harmonies on the choruses. You could hear a pin drop, and after we left the stage people told me that we had the only standing ovation of the evening!!! And I decided that it was fun being there, after all- the food was delicious.....

Of course our L.I. paper, Newsday, mentioned my name in the list, but reviewed only the rock music groups- never said a word further about me. So much for my home community! BUT- Friday I was awakened briefly by a reporter from The New York Times (trumpets here), and she wanted to come for an interview, on Monday, for the Times. So- Newsday- Nyahh!

Thanks so much to all of you for your good words and wishes. I hope to be a Mudcatter for a long time yet!

Love and blessings,    Jean