Dear Friends,

It’s a cold, white day here in Charlottesville, this 10^th day of Christmas, and we’re still enjoying the aftermath of our first Virginia White Christmas in memory. It’s been a relaxed break with family visits, New Year’s recollections and resolve, and a welcome respite from all things Washingtonian. School resumed yesterday. Congress is back to work tomorrow. And I’m off until early February. So what’ll I possibly do to fill in all this free time?

Parthy and I are returning to our favorite undiscovered island (you’ll never pry it out of me…) for a getaway with old friends. It’s been awhile since I’ve visited this remarkable place with virtually no tourist industry, native drumming, steel bands, and a wild black square dance tradition (the band is made up of fiddle, triangle, tambourine and double-headed drum).The 87-year-old fiddler is an old pal and I’m looking forward to a large dose of the wackiest bowing I’ve ever encountered.

A new album of topical songs (with son, Will, lending production assistance!) will fill up the rest of the time off. Shortly thereafter I’ll launch my 20^th (is this possible?) Left Coast Tour with visits up and down the California coast. I’ll get back and enjoy a short breather before heading down into Florida for a five-day stint and then out to the balmy climes of Albuquerque for the Folk Alliance Convention where I’ll don my Local 1000 cap and press the union flesh for the weekend. The balance of the spring finds me joining pals Charlie King, Tom Chapin, the MandoMafia for shows across the country. I’ll be joining the Salina (KS) Symphony Orchestra as guest artist for their spring Pops Concert. I’ll be venturing down to Nicaragua in April with my goddaughter in tow to visit friends and lend a hand to the mammoth clean up efforts in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. The spring and summer wind down with my in-laws' 50^th wedding anniversary shindig and one of my younger brothers throwing a 40^th birthday bash out in his southern Californian digs.

This was the year that Will’s age (16!?) finally surpassed his shoe size (15!!??).He’s finally taller than the old man and is looking ahead to getting out of high school with great longing. He’s turned into a fascinating musician and has also undertaken his first outside-the-nest job, doing computer troubleshooting for a local graphic arts studio. Peter, who is exploring his first year of high school, loves the hubbub and the crowds. He’s a hardworking student who exerts more energy only on the ramps of the local skate park. Parthy continues her educational advocacy work and was honored recently with a well-deserved special award for her many years of service to the AIDS Support Group in Charlottesville.

Bill Davis joins me this year as road manager. Scott Wagy, my trusty companion of the last couple of years, heads off seeking work as a foreign student advisor on a university campus. A new Huss & Dalton guitar will accompany us on tour as well. Hope we’ll all meet in some wonderful convergence of music, mayhem, and magic this year. Until then…