Hurray, Hurray, first day of May! Outside _________ begins today! You fill in the blank.
I hope things are well in your world. I first want to say hello to Sean and Darlene from Nokomis. We saw them at a wedding on April 29th. Hey Sean and Darlene! Thanks for being so interested in my music career and so supportive. I appreciate it big time. I always enjoy seeing you two and I know Trev does also. I hope you're having a great spring up there in Nokomis.
Things are great in Girl Singer Land. I survived the winter. I always feel like I've really accomplished a huge task after getting through another Saskatchewan winter. The wind and the cold and the dark can slow me down. Maybe I'm cold blooded like a frog - things just kinda quite moving much in the winter.
I did attend a great songwriting workshop sponsored by Sask Music in Saskatoon. They brought in Dean McTaggart, Ralph Murphay and James Dean Hicks. Huge master songwriters. Lots to learn from them and lots of fun with other Saskatchewan songwriters. I've been to a couple workshops that Ralph Murphay has been leading. Both times he spoke about a woman who recently wrote a book that made it to the best sellers list. He told of how for many years she went to workshops around the states to learn more about writing a book. After years of hard work and determination, she ended up with a novel on the best seller's list. A wonderful, encouraging story and I can't help but think Ralph is looking right at me everytime he tells this story. Maybe its his way of saying, "Don't give up."
Giving up, I'm not. I came home from that workshop and formed a small writing group with other Sask writers. We are writing from a title whenever we get together. Actually, the title is given prior to getting together and everyone writes from the same title and then comes and shares what we've come up with. Really interesting to see how a few people can come up with so many different views of the same title. I'm digging it and I'm writing more than I've written in a while.
On the home front things are going great. I'm assistant coaching Josi's softball team. Twelve 10 year olds learning to play ball. Fun and frustrating at the same time. Last week, the centerfield player let a ball go by her because she was doing her hair. This week, the second base player let one by her because she was practicing her dance moves. I played softball growing up and it's funny how much of what my coaches said to me all those years ago is coming back to me. Haven't won a game quite yet, but I can see definite improvement in these little athletes.
And, I'm playing ball as well this year. I joined the ladies softball team in Lumsden. Those girls can play. No fooling around there. I had to giddyup big time to keep up. I was more nervous my first time up to bat than I was when I sang for the Queen last year. Yikes. I hit it. Not hard and not far, but I hit it. I'm either going to have to take some time in the batting cage with a private coach or jump in front of the ball for a walk if I'm going to get on bass.
Girls just got home from school. I better go get supper happening. Josi has a big ball game tonight.
Take care and I'd love to hear from you soon.
Marny
The talented artist, Megan Mansbridge - also from Lumsden, has beautifully illustrated the book, which incorporates the setting of Saskatchewan's picturesque Qu'Appelle Valley.
