I took an early pension to leave a boring job, took a class in how to play for elderly, chronically ill, and/or dying. I got a certification, and now play for residents in retirement homes. I volunteer with Hospice, and Alzheimer's wards. I studied all the classic songs from the 30's 40's, and beyond. I love those old songs! BIG BALLROOM is about that nostalgic feeling of a huge room filled with musicians and dancers. As inspiration, I took the memories of going to dances at the Elks in Tacoma, WA, where my uncle Dale Frank was the exalted ruler for a year. I loved how they would put sand on the floor. COMMON DISASTER is a song that just came to me in a dream. I never, when awake would put those two words together for a song. Just the previous week, I was dumped. I was hurt. I got a song out of it. YOUR BIRTHDAY SONG was written when after having knee surgery, I couldn't get to a store to get my wife a present. So I wrote her this song. WHERE I'VE BEEN is poetry by my wife Candace. I came up with a few words to link the two poems, put it to a guitar riff I had floating around, and we had a song! I SURRENDER is another poem by Candace. I put it to music. I got down on my knees and sang it like I was praying. WHITE ALBUM BLUES is a Fable. A true story of trying to steal when I was thirteen. The hand of God prevented this from happening. Twice! I'll See You In My Dreams is a cover song that I play all the time at Homes. A perfect example of how songs were written, back when recording was new. FOUND MY WAY is another song that came in a dream. I got out of bed at three AM to record this on the Fostex. I had just started seeking the Truth. 1990. WHAT IF...? A sappy love song that people always said they liked. I used to squirm when I heard the lyrics. Did I write that? OUR WEDDING SONG was written one sunny day I was sitting on the deck trying to come up with a song to sing at our wedding. Feeling frustrated, I put the 12-string away and looked up in the sky. A balloon was floating ever so gently towards our place. I watched for a few minutes, and realized this red, heart-shaped balloon, that said I LOVE YOU on it was going to light behind the barn. I ran out and got the balloon, and there was my song! I played this song at our wedding. I was very nervous. I never sang at my own wedding before, let alone, my own song! My fingers were ice-cold. BACK HOME AGAIN was chosen for a friend. I was volunteering at Hospice House in Tacoma when a gentleman came out of one of the rooms to listen to me playing in the lobby. I asked him what sort of music he liked. Country and Western. I played BACK HOME AGAIN. As I finished the song I looked up and he was crying. Dale comes to Hospice House when I play in the lobby. He has only missed two or three times I've played there. His wife passed just two years ago. Music is a big part of his healing and bereavement. HOPI LULLABY (HAVE NO FEAR) is a song I should have left off the CD. I heard a Hopi woman talk about 2012, and was so moved by her loving presence, and message, I tried to make the experience into a song. Written and recorded on the same day, it was put together too quickly. I wanted to address all this doomsday stuff. I like all kinds of music but the Beatles on Ed Sullivan when I was just eight years old impacted me in a profound way. I would sit on the back porch with a radio to my ear, studying the harmonies to I FEEL FINE, SHE LOVES YOU, and WE CAN WORK IT OUT. I have the BEATLES logo tattooed o
