These days in the first half of February are the approximate middle of winter. Even in the first year of my Captain’s Log, I began to slip a bit in the regularity of my entries, covering a range of days at a time. Then, as the log moves on beyond its first year, I seem to have written very entries during February in general and, for this midwinter week, none at all beyond 1980.

So, away we go, winging back over forty years to February 1978, when I was some three months into my nineteenth year.

Captain’s Log: Stardate 020.778 [Tuesday, February 7, 1978]

Work work work work, work work work work. Well, I guess that sums up my feelings. I slept late this morning but I’ve been busy since I got up. Tomorrow doesn’t look much better with 5 classes to look forward to.

I saw A——— today. She’s been in the infirmary for a couple of days. When she gets to feeling better maybe we’ll get some work done on our music.

New Beginning practice went well tonight and after that was done, I had a pretty good practice with my flute. . . .

Captain’s Log: Stardates 020.878-020.978 [Wednesday-Thursday, February 8-9, 1978]

I’ve been busy these past couple of days. I’m doing a lot of practicing and I can feel it paying off ever so slightly. Tomorrow I only have German and a flute lesson. . . .

Captain’s Log: Stardates 021.078-021.278 [Friday-Sunday, February 10-12, 1978]

These days have been pretty uneventful. I’m just stayin’ alive and I’m thankful for that. On Friday I had a real good flute lesson, then went home to just kick around. Yesterday morning, I called Kelly to tell her I’d be down March 3, 4, & 5. Then I came back to Mars Hill to set up the handbell tables and practice piano. Last night Paul Babely and me went to see the Asheville Symphony. It was pretty good.

Today I’m playing hand bells at the Baptist church, then it’s home for lunch and I’m starving now. . . .

Captain’s Log: Supplimental [sic]

Another Sunday night and I’m back at school waiting for another Monday. This, however, should be a good week if my piano lesson doesn’t mess me up. She really loaded me down. What’s good about this week is that Wednesday I’ll be in Charlotte to see Jean-Pierre Rampal, and I can’t wait. well, better catch some Z’s. . . .

Captain’s Log: Stardate 021.378 [Monday, February 13, 1978]

This day has been great! So many good things have happened to me and I know they come by the grace of my God, the only God.

First I must tell you about a late entry for yesterday. At Youth Group it was decided that I would arrange the service for the group’s 5th Sunday meeting in April. I really hope we can do well and be a blessing to all who hear us.

I got mail from Camp Cheerio this morning telling me that they were very impressed with my application. If I get the job, it’ll be a big decision as to whether or not to go.

This evening I went to Mike Tweed’s to eat supper and had the usual good time.

When I got back from Tweed’s I got the urge to go down and practice. Just as I got there A——— was quitting. I never did get any practice done because we just talked for almost an hour. She’s gonna go to the Rampal concert with us on Wednesday. It was thrilling because for a week or so I’ve been praying for someone to talk to and spend some time with and this comes up. I don’t know what’ll come of it but I’m sure willing to hide and watch (I hope Dr. Bryant still has tickets). . . .

Nashville in 1979

Captain’s Log: Stardate 020.780 [Thursday, February 7, 1980]

Hello! Things are going well here in Music City. I’ve had a good weekend and a good week so far. I saw George, Phill and Keith, (Not Ed), and Mike. Made the flume zoom at Opryland and I also applied for a job with Labor Source, Inc. driving a van 5 hrs a week for $6.00/hr. I gave my tunes to Mulloy and he liked them, especially “Rhymes” and “A Cowboy” . . .

It seems during these early days of my first having moved away from home that I traveled back to the mountains most every weekend. I guess that was the case until I got the Opryland job (even though I didn’t keep it very long).

Bob Mulloy was one of my instructors in the Music Business program at Belmont College. I remember “Rhymes” (as a song, although I can’t remember it enough to play it). I have Gabriel writing some of it in the apartment above the funeral home in Gabriel’s Songbook. “A Cowboy” was in B minor and was Joey Plemmons’s favorite among my songs.

Captain’s Log: Stardate 021.180 [Monday, February 11, 1980]

Not a whole lot going down these days. Just been doing school work mostly. Let’s see, last week I talked to Billy Puett for about 30 mins. which was really interesting. I got my job at Opryland but I didn’t get the one with Labor Source, Inc. School is going fine except for Algebra. If things don’t get any better in there, I may try to get out and go back to Math 90 rather than fail but if there’s a chance I’ll pass I hang 10. I got to talk to Joe Arnold for a while last night, it was great to hear his voice again. Jack is supposed to call sometime soon. I’ve got my first session in the studio coming up Thursday (021.480). I’ll be doing lead vocals on a Charlie Daniels tune called the “Passing Lane“. I’ve never heard it so I hope I can learn it and do a good job. I wrote and finished a new tune of my own today called “Forever”. A complete remake of an of an [sic] old one T. Wiley helped me write a few years back . . .

I doubt this is me during my time working the Flume Zoom at Opryland, but it looks like it could be.

I first encountered Algebra at Marshall High School, on the island, when I was a freshman. I did really well in Algebra I. During sophomore year at Madison High School, I started out well in Geometry and did a slow fade through the year, actually failing the last six weeks, I think. Algebra II in junior year was a disaster. So goes my math skills.

I’m not sure how meeting Billy Puett came about. He was a studio musician in Nashville, providing flute/saxophone/recorder tracks for lots of folks I listened to: Dallas Holm, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Jimmy Buffett, and more.