It was a wet drive up to Maine to perform in Waterville at Colby College. Yet, this four and a half hour trip flew by in no time at all. So many times I've driven to Maine for shows it feels now as if I'm driving to the grocery store; all the turns automatic.

Whilst driving my mind was completely absorbed in the two recording projects I'm involved with. I bounce back and forth between the songs and their particular arrangements, testing and hearing both the audible and inaudible instruments in their places over and over.

At Colby I met Bill Burlinghoff who introduced himself to me as a member of the faculty in the mathematics department, but during the 60's and 70's he toured the country playing the banjo and guitar and his own repertoire of traditional and original folk music. Bill noticed on my tour card that later in the week I would be performing at The Sounding Board in Hartford helping to celebrate it's 25th anniversary. He spoke of being in that community during the Sounding Board's beginnings, and remarked how amazing it was that Len Domler was still at the helm as organizer. He also spoke of the Cafe' Lena (Saratoga Springs, NY) in it's early days, and the Fox Hollow festival in New York state and some of the great performances he'd seen in the 60's. He also expressed to me he was glad that I'm doing what I'm doing and gave me encouragement to keep it up.

Meeting Bill gave to me yet another stitch in the fabric of great American songwriting and how we're all woven together. I particularly loved his stories about a time in the folk scene that was happening while I was still in a suburban California elementary school listening to the Beatles, oblivious of what homespun culture was happening on the other coast.........Thanks Bill.

Well, that's about it for now. I wish you all a safe, peaceful, and joyous holiday time. Stay warm, keep in touch, and see you on the other side of the new year!

Dana