- A few things stand out for me:

- My father's folk albums when I was very young - the Weavers, Burl Ives, Marais and Miranda.

- My first few weeks of college when a fellow freshman told me about Folk Legacy records (and happily had a few LPs around to demonstrate), and then a few weeks later invited several of us to a Gordon Bok concert.

- The first time I saw (and got to try) a mountain dulcimer.

- A radio show on a Saint Patrick's Day many years ago on which I first heard the Bothy Band.

- The first time I went to an Irish music class and realized the tunes were not just instrumental filler on song albums!

- The first time I saw a performance by: Altan/Martin Hayes/Bruce Molsky/Matapat/etc.,etc./ add your favorite surprise discoveries here!

All of these (and many other events) started me off on different pathways/aspects of traditional music. I can't pick just one! But thanks for letting me indulge in the memories! Zhenya