So glad you put the "l" in "planties". You had me stunned for a minute.

The Scottish dance was a long way to go (Greenbelt, just down from your folks) but well worth the trouble. That Scottish dancing is just incredible; sort of corps de ballet in kilts and long dresses. I think I'm the first person to ever show up at an Open Scottish Band with a long neck and a 6-string banjo, prepared to play Strathspeys. I thought it worked well and frankly got a lot of compliments and an invitation to play the second half in the front row.

It was at this point we brought it all home to these folks. They were playing a dance set called the Reel of the 51st Highland Division, and broke into a piece called the Drunken Piper. Carol, it was like putting the minor sections of Groweling Old Man, Grumbling Old Woman together with Kitchen Maid. I caught on immediately and went to the long neck. Steve Hickman and I had a ball, "playing through" and the Scots fiddlers (about 10, from the local Scottish Fiddle Club) held up their end of the bargain. We had two recalls and only stopped when the dance master pointed out to the crowd that they wouldn't get to the waltzes if we didn't move on. Liz said later that she'd never heard an arrangement like that. I told her to call it "The Reel of the 51st Highland Division Supported in the Assualt By The 3rd Marines". I believe Liz has had her funny bone surgically removed...

Anyhow, I've got another clogging piece for Kim and Jan, and Rock Candy. Got to go, let me know about the delivery date for the accordion.