Recently this story was published in the CEILI, the newsletter of the SCMA (Southwest Celtic Music Association.) Here is my original composition. --------------- In early July, I took a trip to Springfield, Missouri, not only to see my friends Jesse and Ann Owsley, but also to take part in a fiddle contest. This only happened at Jesse's urging, it wasn't something I just decided, spur of the moment. I played at one Invitational contest a few weeks before in Fort Worth that wa

In mid June, 2014, I made the trek back to Weiser, Idaho for the first time since 2008. Weiser is the home of the National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest, where it has been held since 1953. I first went in 1974, and when we got home after that trip is when I started playing the fiddle. I went every year I could from about 1977 until 1990, when I moved to Dallas. Then I went in 1995, attempted to play in the contest, and totally embarrassed myself - I froze up on stage. It was a ve