Lucky, what a kind and timely topic!

What I appreciate is the diversity we have here. I'm not going to do even a partial list of my favorites, but everyone knows Chas, Diki, Uncle Dave, Don Mason, Dennis, Rory, Ian, Tony and Nigel are on it, for sure.

Look at the diversity! Here we have everything from an Austrailian video game designer to a Louisana "country gentleman"...a cool, compassionate pilot/jazz/B-3 guy in Atlanta to a passionate full time "gigging" musician origionally from England who is an unselfish helper in the areas of instrument technical stuff and in all matters musical...a music teacher from the North and a full-time Nashville musician in the South.

Talk about diverse music! We have a smooth voiced "county gentleman" who can emulate the hell out of a pedal steel to a hard core jazz organist in Atlanta...a genius multi-instrument guy in "music city" to a sensitive Leon Russell influenced dude in the "land down under".

Frankly, until I really listened to their views, I sometimes missed the real substance. A couple of times, I was mildly irritated, at first, at a few of the folks who are now at the very top of my list.


That's because:

1. I wasn't giving what they had to say my full open-minded consideration.

2. I briefly forgot that, just because they might approach things a little differently, that only means that their approach is not right for ME and I have no business criticizing their approach on a personal level.

After putting some of the foolishness aside, my life is much richer now when I include my friends whom I would never have met if it weren't for the "zone". I don't go to any other site.

My personal visits, although brief, are lifetime highlights. Luckily, I'll be returning to Atlanta frequently, and will have a chance to visit with Chas who is a "reinissance man" if there ever was one.

And, one way or another, I'm going down to Louisanna to harrass one of the brightest, most enjoyable and talented people I've ever contacted: Don Mason.

Let's all enjoy each other; celebrate the similarities; enjoy the diversity and forget the silly little differences, which are not worth the bother.

I REALLY appreciate you folks.


Russ (group hug) Lay


[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 07-09-2009).]