It's Stampede Week, and I'm a tired Turtle.

Yes, sir. Many days of early mornings and late nights filled in with settling in to a new vie avec Nathalie has made Tortue a tired boy.

A couple days ago I was up far before the birds because by the time the birds were to be up, I had to be on site at a pancake breakfast to provide sound for a group of perhaps-not-so-enthusiastic corporate types.

As I was in my pre-first-coffee daze - around about 6:30 AM - I came across a well-known classic country tune that, as it was playing, reminded me of that age-old question,

"If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would that be?"

The song in question was Country Roads by John Denver.



Why this man, you ask?

The answer is simple.

And that, too, is the answer: His unique simplicity.

I truly believe that most artists - be they painters, poets, authors or musicians to name a few, express themselves and quite often the truest sense of themselves through their art.

There I was, in my far-too-early-in-the-morning-to-be-here daze, unable to do anything but that which was ingrained in me through sheer repetition of the years. Somehow, the lyrics and music and genuin-ness of the man came through clear as chrystal.

This is a guy I'd love to know.

Of course, John Denver has passed away, but isn't it wonderful that he's left a few pieces of that which fed his soul and inspired other humans along the way.