were on paper. They were REAL. Tonight, he and I are going to perform two of the songs at a club.

I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that this man has NO idea what a tremendous gift he's given me. I've sung these songs before, a cappella, for a variety of people... mostly for musicians, including my singing partner in my old band, Short Circuit. I heard the same thing, every time. "You WROTE that?! Oh my! It's GREAT! The lyrics are fantastic... That would really sell! I love the chord changes... interesting and attention-getting ending! I love the play on words!" But that's as far as it went. No one wanted to take the time or trouble to help me with them. I can read music like, "E very G ood B oy D oes F ine..." AH! That's an ' F' ." (I once learned to play Man of La Mancha on the piano from sheet music. It only took me 3 months.) So I was sort of up a creek without the proverbial paddle when it came to my own creations. But last night, Wade listened to me sing a line or two, then he strummed what he'd just heard. Sometimes, I'd say, "That chord isn't right..." Unfortunately, I'd not be able to tell him HOW to fix it. I could only tell him that it wasn't what was in my head. He'd continue trying various chords: Major, minor, seventh, augmented, 'demented' (as he puts it), up a third, up a fifth... on and on, until I suddenly yelled out, "THAT'S what I'm hearing!" Then we'd write it down.

15 years of just not knowing... And tonight, I'll find out. Even if the songs suck and aren't well-received, at least I'll know. Even so, I know that at least ONE person out there had the faith in me to listen and work and help -- and perform my songs with me.

Bet