blues, you are indeed a wealthy man. What a lovely story.

When I was expecting my son (now 20), he would kick me every time I played my guitar. Throughout his childhood and early teens, the word from him was that he hated folk music. It was for seniors.

Then -- Lo and behold! -- His friends discovered the Renaissance Festivals and the Pyrates Royale. (Celtic, are you paying attention?)

Darriel discovered that teenagers COULD relate to folk songs; moreover, he had been absorbing tunes and choruses all those years we dragged him to Open Sings and Getaways.

He's now on the Board of the Folklore Society, he's a regular at shantey sings at the Royal Mile Pub and co-led a pub sing at the Getaway last year with Mudcat's own Jeri.

I would have loved beyond words to have him enjoy making music with Bill and me and our friends while he was growing up, but the most important thing from a parent's point of view is that music has now become a rewarding part of his life. It adds so much.