Guest Book

Hey there sweet family, Thanks, Woody. I do remember and am glad you're smilin'. 🙂 Dale, here's another one for you: Weeks before the Beacon I teasingly challenged Oteil right here on the Guest Book to get up early Saturday the 20th to join us on our little jaunt to the Weekend Today show. To my delight and surprise he said he would - if it wasn't too cold out. :cold: Given that mornings in NYC in March typically are still chilly (it was only 36 degrees when Marsha and I went to the show), we let him off the hook for that. But I wondered if he'd be up for something else later in the day. Like? Like meeting with a small group of the extended family in my suite the way Dick Griffin did last year for a couple hours, hanging out, chatting, answering questions, signing things, taking pix. We nick-named it "Lana's Salon Party", but it was really an attempt to create some magical memories for those involved. Oteil didn't hesitate to say, "Yes". In fact, he thought it was a great idea. So, we set about asking folks to come (Alan S., Great Scott & Nicole, sorry you were unable to make it), trying to keep it on the low because Oteil would be walking into the Beacon Hotel in the middle of the afternoon and we didn't want him to get mobbed. Everything went wonderfully! Oteil arrived on time, the conversation flowed smoothly, there was lots of laughter, many questions, good stories. In fact, it went so well that I recalled a promise I'd made to Scotty weeks before ... to try to bring a special guest to the Left Coast Groovies party to jam. Life unfolds as it should, and that afternoon the layers peeled off an adventure that led Oteil down to the Sweeties suite to hear some special music Jacquie recommended ... to the Left Coast party where Oteil did indeed sit in with Lammy for a stellar version of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", with members of the family who were present joining in on the chorus. Heart be still. :inlove2: You just can't plan things like that. You've read about the Cosmic auction - how Oteil admired Woody's bass string and some of Frank's homemade wine, but didn't want to enter the auction for fear of it seeming rigged if he won, then I won it for him (whew, sorry for the long sentence!). He also won something else that day, the hearts of all those he came in touch with. Seriously, have you ever met a nicer man?? Another big winner was you, the Family. Oteil wouldn't have done any of this if he didn't trust you and love you right back. Take care and know that you are loved, Lana