Dear folks,

Our friend Bob is an old man now, as things were reckoned in the days before open-heart surgery, and so am I.

So here's a couple of thoughts.

The first two or three albums -- "Freewheelin'" especially -- are masterworks. And later, well, there's "Nashville Skyline," with Norman Blake and Charlie Daniels playing, gosh, pretty good licks for pretty good songs.

As for all the rest, Bob is just what he is -- a working musican and a very good writer. Maybe not the best ever, maybe not even as good as he once was. But then, I'm not as good as I once was either. All you 20-somethings, let me tell you true, you're time is coming.

All I know is that, on certain nights with certain friends, "Don't Think Twice" and "Blowin' in the Wind" still make me cry. They're wonderful songs, and that's enough.

I love ya Bob, even if you're not the Messiah. I never thought you were, and you certainly never wanted to be.

And for all you second-guessers and wannabees, here's a real gen-u-wine INsight (as Woody might've wrote): Bob, you can pick and sing in MY kitchen any day of the week.

Hugs and kisses, Tony