Well it is not quite as serious as it sounds. Yesterday, Sunday, at the Bluegrass Festival in Quartzsite Arizona, they had what is called a “Band Scramble.” In a “Band Scramble” willing participants put their names in coffee cans and they draw names from each can to make up bands. After some serious arm bending by some of our newly found friends, Gary consented to put his name in the Guitarist coffee can. The names are drawn and the newly formed band gets an hour to practice and then they go up on stage and give a live performance before an adoring crowd of hundreds of bluegrass enthusiasts. You don’t even get a chance to develop stage fright, it all happens so fast. Our band consisted of eight musicians from rank amateurs to professional players. We had two mandolins, two guitars, a dobro, a fiddle, a banjo and a bass. Our band performed “Mountain Dew,” “Bile Them Cabbage,” and “I’ll Fly Away.” There were lots of singers in our band, but everyone got a chance at a verse in the two vocal pieces. Gary’s verse came in “Mountain Dew.” Judy kept up her part by recording the performance and getting several photos. If you follow the link to our web page (www.dinsmore-enterprises.com) you will be able to see a couple of the photos, and I think I can pull an audio sample into mp3 format and you may even be able to hear a sample of our performance. Never fear if you can’t, however, we should have a CD out by the next time we see you all.

We are making new friends every day. They keep saying, “Bluegrass people are the nicest people.” It is easy to believe that. They typically have a couple RV’s parked head to toe and then wall it in with tarps. They either have a washing machine basket and a fire, or they have propane heaters to take the chill off. The players and observers sit inside and make music all evening. I have to think this is what our forbearers did before we invented mass media and platinum albums. Perhaps some of our heritage is slipping away.

We have heard that the Death Valley Desert is blooming the best in a hundred years, so we are pulling up stakes this morning and headed back over to California and Furnace Creek.

Meanwhile we send our love to all of our friends.

Gary and Judy.