Im happy to say that at 62, I think Ive reached that point where stuff doesnt bother me as much, and my gratitude level has gone way up, especially having gone through the loss that Ive had, and losing so many of the great artists that I was close to. They taught me how to see it with a grain of salt and a lot of humor and perspective.

I'm certain that it was an incredible gift for me to not only be friends with some of the greatest blues people who've ever lived, but to learn how they played, how they sang, how they lived their lives, ran their marriages, and talked to their kids.

Life is simple yet complex, in the complexity we realize everything is simple for we create our own happiness, our own sadness & our own destiny by not making a choice you have chosen so face life with courage and faith in yourself.

I learned by experience that you can change your circumstance. It's as simple as the serenity prayer; it's a very, very real thing.

I finally learned to accept that I can't make radio play blues any more than I could get Reagan out of the White House.

There are so many people out there working with great grassroots and global and national organizations that are unsung heroes to me.

I grew up in Los Angeles in a Quaker family, and for me being Quaker was a political calling rather than a religious one.