Just wanted to relay an anecdote about yesterday’s jam. My friend who came with me, is one of the kindest, gentlest people I know, and has been struggling with mental health issues for all of his adult life. He’s in a pretty good place these days, but has had some very rough recent stretches. He’s really into music, and I’ve been telling him forever that he should come to one of the blues jams with me. But the bar scene is just not his style, so he’s alway shied away. In my mind, all of the blues jams are friendly and easy-going. But when I think about it, they do also tend to have some degree of posturing / competitiveness / aggression. Not due to any one person. Just the general overall vibe that tends to develop. But none of that is true at the events you put on. Everyone yesterday was so genuinely kind and gracious to the new guy. I was watching him, while he was playing, and while he was watching, and it was the most happy and relaxed I’ve ever seen him. Just a supremely positive and heartwarming thing to see. Everyone is responsible in part for that. But first and foremost, it comes from you as the organizer. So, please know that all of what you’re doing with Down by the Riverside is not going unnoticed. I’m grateful, and I know that many other people are as well.
