[Harp-L] thinking and playing (and Chris, sort of)

["steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <swebb@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm not sure why the news of Chris has had such an effect on me, but it 
has.

Tonight, I left a benefit thing way early and went to a little place 
where a couple of my friends were playing. It's a quieter spot and I 
really like their music and it was way better than the noise at the 
overcrowded benefit.
This duo has invited me to sit in a couple of times in the past, but I 
have always declined. Mostly because they are so good and I felt 
overmatched.
Tonight, I had a couple of extra drinks and I was in enough of a mood 
that I said yes when they asked. I didn't know any of the 3 songs we 
played. In fact, I couldn't tell you right now.  I just told them ahead 
of time if they kept it to 3 or 4 chords, I could probably hang in 
there.
I was kind of thinking of Chris at the time. He used to tell me: "You're 
a good player. Just play and quit thinking about it."
So I did and, of course, it turned out good.
After... the guy who is the main guitar player asked me to stop back 
tomorrow night if I could.
"You put in the songs just what I would do if I could play harp," he 
said.
I considered that just about the best compliment I have ever had. And I 
did play pretty good.
Music is a strange obsession.

Steve Webb in Minnesota