Marion, there are several versions of "Maggie," and some versions/verses dwell on how old and grey we are and how near the end, while others dwell more on how "you're as fair as you were." I don't avoid death (like "...the grave will decay you and turn you to dust/ Not one boy in a hundred a poor girl can trust..."), but I don't focus on it as a theme, either. I tend to save "Maggie" for Irish theme programs and for grandparents' day and maybe Valentine's programs, or I sing a short version.

I don't usually use songbooks for groups that can't handle them readily without help--unless there are staff present to help. They can be very useful in assisted living and independent retirement homes, where they're used just like a hymnal is in church (only with much bigger print). For Alzheimer's patients they're often a lot more of a distracton than a help. (Folks get so busy looking for the song that they forget that they already know the words to "Let Me Call You Sweetheart.")

As for faxing already formatted materials, I offer that option to anyone interested, not because you can't make your own, but because the formatting can be very time consuming,* and it seems a shame for everyone to have to "reinvent the wheel." I'd be glad to swap lyric sheets with anyone who's interested -- i.e., I'll show you mine if you show me yours. *G*

Re 'competing' with Maureen Forrester, I should mention that I end up being compared with the whole Boeing Chorus in Seattle (and I understand they're excellent!). Also, some of my audience members used to play with bands such as Tommy Dorsey, Kay Kyser, Glen Miller, etc., and others were concert pianists, opera singers, etc.

Genie

* My current songbooks are infinitely better than the ones I first made up. I've learned never to print lyrics in all capitals, because that decreases legibility, and I've discovered some fonts that are measureably easier to read than others. I have also done a lot of research into getting lyrics and author credits right, rather than just making it up from memory, as I did at first.