The Evening of October 20th

My Course at Anne Arundle Community College was cancelled due to lack of sign-ups so I was free to do some other things that I enjoy instead. I left my house at 4pm and headed to Millers, MD where I played in a church bluegrass band called Paul Neal and the 2nd Generation. We played at a spaghetti supper. This band is led by a 90 year old mandolin player. He likes autoharp so I get to do lead once in a while. This band was well established when I joined so I had to learn a lot of tunes and songs. I fit in by learning to sing harmony where ever I could. We have mandolin, 2 guitars, banjo, bass and an occasional fiddler. The folks there are friendly and loving so it is always a happy time. When this event was over I headed southwest a bit to New Freedom, PA where Bryan Bowers was playing. I got there right before his break. Bryan was at his best. It was a small audience crowded into a small little room so it was a very intimate venue. I had never been there before but plan to go back again and also for their open mic nights. Bryan performed many of his old standards that I have heard many times but they were well received by this audience. There were some songs that were new or not real familar to me as well. He also told some great stories the were also well received. I don't believe there were many autoharpers in the crowd, however. My friend, Linda Morris, who did the write-up on Bryan for the magazine Dirty Linen, was instrumental in getting Bryan to come to this venue. In fact, I wouldn't have know about it if she hadn't e-mailed me. I met her several years ago when she came to one of my autoharp courses. She teaches in Batimore and I have visited her classes several times taking loaners for the kids to play. Sooooo ~ ~ ~it was an exciting evening and all due to the autoharp which has taken me so many wonderful places and allowed me to make so many good friends. Thanks be to God.