I first met Sandy and Caroline in California in 1968. Sandy was a handsome young man and Caroline a beautiful young woman. We had a wonderful visit. They came to my house, and among other things, they helped me to catch a few more hard-to-understand words from an old County recording I had of "Going Down the Valley." They suggested that to get more of the words I should come East to the next Fox Hollow festival and talk to a man named Joe Hickerson. I did. Joe had not heard the song, but he did, later, find the words and recorded the song on a Folk Legacy record in 1969.

I have since learned that this was a pretty typical first meeting with Sandy and Caroline. The visit was fun, they were helpful about folk music and it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Now 41 years have gone by. We saw each other 3 or 4 times a year at folk festivals. We always found time to talk. We sang together after concerts. I got lots of hugs from both of them. After I moved East in 1972, we occasionally visited each other's homes. During the last 20 years, or so, one of the common topics of Sandy's and my conversations was how we were each doing with our respective heart problems. It was a joy to grow old together.

Farewell Sandy. You were a good friend and a good man. I miss you very much.

Caroline, all my love.

-Alan Oakes