Thank you.
I'm an English teacher, which means most of my life outside the classroom is spent reading and marking papers, but last night my dear husband led me to our car and said, "We are going to live our lives tonight." And that meant going to a Tom Paxton concert. Now, please understand, I love 'em all, from Leonard Cohen to Shane McGowan to kd lang to Drive-By Truckers to ... yeah, all that. Tom Paxton. Well, that sounds nice, honey. Sure, I'll go. Sweet Tom, as in "where have all the flowers gone?" and "you know that was the last thing on my mind." I sat there in that tiny theater, burned out, tired of high school freshmen and grieving over what my beloved country is becoming and the conversation with my born-again sister-in-law, and ... and Tom Paxton and Anne Hill came on stage. As I sit here writing this, I am in tears again, just as I was last night. To be surrounded again by people who love peace and justice and this beautiful, beautiful nation, to hear Tom sing all that, to have him remind us of all that, was dearer and more healing than I can express here. Thank you, Tom Paxton. Thank you, Kos people. Thank you, husband and son and girlfriend (who were there too). That's all. I've never diaried before - probably never will again.
I don't ask for any recommends on this - just listen to Tom P. again, and all those sweet people of that sweet time.