Mark Patrick And Susie

I'm finally getting around to writing this entry.  2 weekends ago my old friend Mark Patrick arrived here with his girlfriend Susie on the ICE Train from Frankfurt.  It was the first time I'd seen him in person since Fall 1977.  Of course we'd never met Susie before either and they arrived at around 11:45 PM Friday night.  Cassie and I were a bit sleepy but wine flowed and after 30 minutes of conversation Susie who speaks some English mentioned she'd like to hear Cassie and I sing so I grabbed a guitar and Mark grabbed a guitar and before we knew it 3:00 am was close at hand.  For me it was like a circle closing and Cassie lit up after hearing Mark play and sing.  Of course the stories flowed about how Mark and I had played in the Metro here back in the 70s and Cassie got to meet still another old friend of mine from way back then.

Mark never left Europe and has lived in Germany since I left.  He makes his living playing and teaching much like our dear friend Robbie Wells back in Lynchburg.  The only difference though is that Mark is covered by a national health plan in a country that prides itself for the atmosphere it engenders for everyone who lives there be they artists, or CEOs of major corporations.  Having Mark and Susie here for 3 nights was easy and we'll be looking for an excuse down the line to travel to Frankfurt and let them show us around.  As always, for me being around Mark was and still is an inspiration.  He's even more musical now of course than he was back in the day and he left me with a pile of his music to listen to.  From the time I first heard "You And I In Heaven" I couldn't get it out of my head and still can't.  He's written a concept piece about the life of Saint Patrick and it's beautiful stuff.  I'm (we're) so lucky to count him and Susie as friends and the sheer wonder and awe of actually being here again is still very present in our every day lives here. www.markpatrick.de

Mark told both me and Cassie that we are a "blessed" family.........  Amen to that.............*

We're very thankful that they both came to see us and share our hospitality......

Have a great day wherever you are.

Love to all everywhere.....

Sid