Dear Norma and the rest of the JMDL, It's been quite awhile since I've written anything, and I apologize for that. With everything that has happened lately, it is almost inexcusable to have sat back in silence. The events of the last week pretty much ripped the life out of me. For about a month now, I have been floating about in a state of mild depression - supposedly a common occurance about six months after open heart surgery. I'm not really sure what brought it all on. I felt great (still do, actually), lost over 35 pounds, was excercising regularly, and eating healthily. Then one day, I woke up, and it didn't really seem to matter that much anymore. Then came Tuesday, September 11, and the moment I've feared since air raid practice in third grade finally arrived; America was under attack. And as horrible as the tragedies of that day are, I fear they are nothing compared to what may still await us and the rest of world. While I absolute agree that these criminals must be brought to justice, it breaks my heart to think about the human cost of this effort. Flash forward to today. I decided to check my email for the first time in days. You've got mail!!! 476 pieces of mail to be exact! My first reaction was to just delete them, and start all over, but for some reason I decided to read some them - and I'm so glad I did. What a facinating blend of topics. America under attack! John's birthday! Petty squabbles (after the eleventh, isn't it a little bit selfish to have such petty squabbles?)! Dream festivals! Desert Island Music! Desert Island Music! I'm not sure why I love this topic so much, but for some reason, I really do. To ask someone to select only ten albums to sustain them musically for the rest of their lives is a pretty serious undertaking. It's not like picking a top ten - with a desert island selection, you're picking choices at the complete exclusion of others. Of course I'll pick Hejira, but that means I'll never be able to listen to Blue or Court and Spark or Don Juan's Reckless Daughter or Turbulent Indigo ever again! Yikes!!! Anyway, in my next email, I'll send out my desert island picks, but in the mean time, I thought I would share my reaction to reading yours. First off, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to complete this challenge. It's reminded me of some incredible mucic, made me re-examine my own music collection, and has turned me on to some amazing new music - most especially, Eva Cassidy - Songbird. What a marvelous discovery this is! How is it possible that I've never heard of this woman before? I picked up my copy Borders - they just received a big shipment of them, and she was even featured at one of their listening stations. I've only listened to this disc once, but I can already tell it's going to have a lasting impact on. I encourage everyone on this list who is not familiar with Eva, to rush out and get this cd. It's a rare beauty. Which brings me to Norma's letter. I dialed in specifically to mention Eva's Songbird and what an impact it had on me, and what is one of the first emails I read, but Norma's letter with the words to 'Oh Had I A Golden Thread' in it. Then I find the following quote near the end of the email: Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us. For some reason, this really struck me, but not because I felt like I was one of those who would go to their grave without ever releasing the music in themselves, but for realizing that I was one of the blessed ones who was able to. And this made me realize what a special gift I've been given, in that I've been able to live the life I've chosen, love a woman who loves me back, enjoy the companionship of some very special people, and experience an abundance of life's many wonders. It's really helped me realize how fortunate I've been, and how happy and thankful I am for all the joys life has passed my way. So thanks everyone. You've really helped waken this sleeping old soul. Jack
