71°f/21.7°C. I think Europe's heatwave is coming here to visit this week! Rained all day yesterday and most of last night, finally beginning to clear.
What a great trip that was to Pocahontas County. It was such a pleasure to see so many old friends...and I do mean old. We are all getting up there! And it was surprising to see how much everyone had aged since I last saw them 3 or 4 years ago. Well, I have too, and I am sure they noticed my many new wrinkles and abundant gray hair! Ah, we were so young when I first came to Allegheny Echoes. All in our 50s and full of sass and vinegar, staying up til the sun came up, sipping on 'shine, singing and laughing and listening or playing music!
Now the conversations are often about what joints have been replaced (used to be joints meant something entirely different to most of these folks!), what medications everyone is taking, where we hurt and why...and everyone is in bed before 2am. What changes time hath wrought.
Which is the reason I very much wanted to go. Time is passing quickly now and I don't want to miss chances to meet up with friends whenever I can. But did I take photos of everyone? Nope, completely forgot because I was too busy being in the moment.
But I did take some videos of the fine, fine music. So here's a taste. First, the Bing Brothers Band. Mike on mandolin, Dave on guitar, Tim on banjo, with Jake Kracke on fiddle and Tim Corbett on bass. These guys will be inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame next April. The Bings, along with my writing mentor Kirk Judd, were the founders of Echoes.
The evening concert featured the teachers and visiting Masters in various instruments and creative writing.
And then later, jams back at the Marlinton Motor Inn, where most of the teachers and students stay, and where many of the classes are held. Classes are also held in various locations in town, as the community really supports this event, and has for the 30 years it has been held.
So I got my music fix, for now. It seems that as I get older I want to hear live music more and more often. That's a good thing, I think.
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