[lighthead2toe]

When I saw Val and husband John coming into the pub, hard shell guitar case in tow, I knew it was the guitar that would eventually come into my hands, and that it did. It was the moment I was waiting for. I took note that Val was very observant of each and every move of that instrument as I greeted them and the guitar was nestled away in a corner until the magic moment came. And come it did when she handed the guitar to me and I practically went legless. A feeling sort of like child seeing the genie appear after the lamp was rubbed. "Here I Am!" Just running a fingernail across the strings would make the bones in the skull vibrate. Could it get any better than this? That was the icing on the cake for me that's for sure. I promised Val that I would be gentle with her guitar so carefully finding our comfort zone we chose "Home From The Forest" as our number. Well let me tell you that before that song was complete I am convinced I saw "Red pines bow their heads" and branches of the "Knotty pine bend beneath the snow." Such a beautiful instrument. It was all very overwhelming, and I sometimes wonder why life seems to be getting so much better when at this late age I'm no longer "coming in?" But it's actually happening; it's never been this good. As Gord says in his song "Seven Island Suite:" Any Man in his Right Mind Could Not Fail to Be Aware." RJ.