We get lots of ridiculous complaints at the public library, of course. When I was running the books-for-the-homebound program, there was a lady who continually complained that we were sending her dirty books. I was being VERY careful about content, so after this happened a few times I asked her what it was she objected to. "They've been HANDLED by so many PEOPLE!" she shrieked. So from then on I chose her books more for spotless appearance than content, and all was fine.

Less silly (just ignorant) but more music-related:

Libba Cotten, shepherded by Mike Seeger and Alice Gerrard, played at the very first (1977) Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park. She was fabulous, of course, and a wonderful treat for our first time out. I was running the Festival office, and shortly after Libba's set ended, a decidedly non-folky woman came into the office asking where the concert was. "All around you -- we have a whole festival!" I said expansively. "No, no, no! I was told there was a CONCERT here today. I walked around and all I saw was some old woman with a guitar!"


Cheers, Nancy