Mags wrote: "to which i ponder: hmmm how many of us here have partners who do NOT like Joni???" Well, my formerly-soon-to-be-ex-partner (if you're confused, so are we! But we're trying to work things out) is an interesting case in point. He is a bit older than I'd imagine the average Joni fan is, and she didn't come close to providing the soundtrack to his life: other composers did. And at first, he seemed fairly hostile to Joni's work, which was rather intimidating to me, as he is an accomplished musician with a doctorate in musical performance. I could relate to the lister who recently wrote that she was reluctant to share her Joni chestnuts with those not likely to appreciate them, and so made it a point to keep them to herself. But over the years, after much discussion of the goings-on on this list, and after seeing me off to several JMDL gatherings (and actually participating in one), he's at least come to appreciate and support my "Joni jones," if not the music itself. Recently, he made sure to tell me when "Painting with Words and Music" re-aired on PBS, and pointed out a copy of the book of lyrics when we were browsing together at a bookstore. And I think he might really like _Both Sides Now_, the album, if he heard it (I'll have to arrange that! ;-) ). One footnote: he joined me toward the end of the Saskatoon trip, saw the Mendel exhibit, and interestingly, had very positive things to say about Joni's *paintings.* Suffice it to say that he was impressed!! I'm not sure I could ever drag him to a Joni concert, but another Joni art exhibit might be a different story! Mary P.
