by Christine | Dec 5, 2008 | Welcome Column
I saw the notice of John Rapp’s death in my inbox today. John Hettinger had shared the sad news that he’d seen in the Placerville paper. I didn’t know John Rapp well, but he had left his mark. I remember him slipping swing chords into the bluegrass and playing songs...
by Christine | Dec 12, 2008 | Welcome Column
My last column was about leaving a mark on the people you meet in this old world and what kind of mark that was. I received many wonderful responses to that on the message board and also in my personal email. I wanted to share a very odd incident that is related to...
by Christine | Apr 24, 2018 | Welcome Column
At the most recent Oscars, a major winner rushed up on stage and, out of breath, and said something like, “Nobody helped me – I did it all myself!” Then she immediately made clear that she was joking and proceeded to thank those who had indeed helped...
by Christine | Feb 26, 2012 | Welcome Column
I really gave some thought to Bert Daniel’s recent Welcome Column. It had to do with the Eight Year Rule; the premise being that if you stuck with playing a musical instrument for eight years, you would probably be proficient at it by the end of that period. He...
by Christine | Nov 21, 2011 | Welcome Column
My dog really loves bluegrass music. She enjoys the music even more when the music is outside at a festival however it seems fewer and fewer events allow our four-legged friends these days. If there is a jam, this canine buddy wants to be in the middle of it. We had a...
by Christine | Nov 21, 2008 | Welcome Column
Bluegrass music is full of songs about the open road. These songs are among my personal favorites. They reflect the fact that we Americans are a very mobile people. We travel for many reasons and our songs mirror those reasons. We are fortunate that we have a...
by Christine | Apr 7, 2008 | Welcome Column
Dear friends, Happy Monday everybody. Hope we’ll see ya’ll at Turlock for CBA Spring Campout. It’s going to be fun! For one thing our friend Sharon Elliott, who we’ve seen precious little of in the last year, has played matchmaker for a number of bluegrass kid...
by Christine | Sep 27, 2015 | Welcome Column
A short time ago, my friend Bert Daniel wrote a column using “teardrops” as a theme. It gave me an idea for my September offering; “Raindrops.” We’ll leave it up to John Karsemeyer to do something clever with “cough drops,” so that leaves “gum drops,” “eavesdrop,” and...
by Christine | Jan 1, 2011 | Welcome Column
In last month’s column, I raised the possibility that I might be the first to wish you a merry Christmas. Now I may be the last to wish you a happy new year. Timing not withstanding, Mrs. Slim and I hope you all have a great 2011. Let’s be thankful to have the things...
by Christine | Sep 28, 2018 | Welcome Column
Driving along Highway 180 on the way to and from the Fathers Day Festival, I see the historic firehouse in Old Town Auburn. Every June when I pass by that stretch of the freeway, the sight of that venerable structure brings back a memory that humbles me to this day.In...
