Winfield, KS 1979
What went on back then out there?  The Walnut Valley Festival – national musician contests galore including the National Hammer Dulcimer Contest.  It was my first visit and quite an experience.  After discovering the instrument in 1978 and building my first instrument the spring of 79, Merla and I took off to see Kansas for the first time (one of many visits to come – 30 in a row!).  I was just starting to discover a variety of music on the instrument, including traditional American and European fiddle tunes.  But I had discovered an interesting 33rpm album of Russian balalaika music and learned a tuned called “I sit on a stone”, which I don’t even remember.  But it was fun and catchy so I decided to share it with the judges.  I was so excited and pumped up – so it started a bit too fast – way too fast – way, way too fast!  I soon realized it and decided the second part of the first verse was never going to happen as it was the most intense part of the song.  What to do?  Stop!!!  Start over and settle down.  Dana Hamilton was playing guitar with me and he couldn’t believe I did that.  He asked the judges later how I could have made it to the final round (yes, I couldn’t believe it myself) after such a blunder and they replied “it was just a single mistake”.  You never know – you just never know what’s going to happen.  The story continues with photo # 96!!!