Dear All,
I am a boatbuilder in Vermont. One of my fondest thoughts was to try, next
time he swept through the area, to spend a day with him fishing in one of our
boats. I’d be rowing he’d be fishing....we’d be talking.
I’m still going to take that fishing trip and Bill will still be with
me...whether on my ipod, in my head or my heart, he’ll always be there.

Last year I saw him twice within a couple of weeks of each other. The first
was at the yoga barn in New Hampshire....the second was at Café Lena. Both
shows were great.....and quite different one from the other.
At the yoga barn, a beautiful venue, by the way, I was the first of the
audience to arrive. I sat maybe 8ft from the microphone. Bill and I talked as he
set things up and got comfortable. I’d guess there was 20 or 30 minutes before
others arrived. I told him of long road trips with our boats and how, some
nights, making it all the way home was just impossible. One damn time 2 miles
from home I had to pull over into a Ford dealership to sleep.....I just could
not make it the rest of the way.
Bill laughed and laughed.....he didn’t say this next part....and clearly
he didn’t need to “Been there, done that” 100 times over.

He also said, “Vermont? You must love Anais Mitchell.”

I said no, I’d never heard of her. He said, “You really need to track
her down. She’s just........” and his voice trailed off. Nothing more needed
to be said.
I have since seen her perform, at the Champlain Valley Folk
Festival.....and, indeed, she was wonderful, amazing, fascinating....take your
pick. After one of her performances I approached her, told her about the yoga
barn and what Bill had said about her. It was like a little ray of sunshine lit
up her already well-lit soul.

Thank you, Bill, at too many levels to discuss.

I don’t know if this photo will come through....but I can imagine him
sitting there with me, enjoying himself like all get out.

He’ll bring the map, I’ll bring the worms.

Peace, Bill.

David Rosen
Middlebury, VT

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