Greetings, all.

After arriving at Falcon Ridge on Saturday shortly after 10:00 AM, I headed
over to the Signature Sounds booth in the concessions area. Immediately next
door was the memorial booth to Dave, filled with candles, notes, photographs
and various mementos from well-wishers. Much to my great surprise, there was
Tracy by herself in the booth, busy cutting and arranging fresh flowers and
putting them in vases. I waited patiently for a few moments; when she turned
around, there was a smile of recognition (like many of you, I'd met her and
Dave at Falcon Ridge 2000 and chatted with them after concerts a few times
since), and we shared a long, comforting hug. After I expressed to her my
sorrow and sadness at Dave's passing, we just simply began to talk. About how
she was coping. About Dave's final few minutes of earthly existence. About
her presence at Falcon Ridge among so many of their fans and admirers.

Much of my conversation with Tracy felt very personal and private to me, so I
do hope you will forgive my reluctance to relate many of its details here.
But allow me to share a couple of noteworthy insights: I described to Tracy
my inability to explain and talk about Dave's death to my co-workers, who, I
am certain, would be hard-pressed to understand how one could be so
profoundly saddened by the passing of a man who was neither a family member
nor a close personal friend. With some measure of both frustration and
defiance, Tracy acknowledged that many people just didn't "get" Dave Carter
or his genius. We also marveled at Dave's duality, how this poet who
seemingly occupied a completely different metaphysical plane than most of the
rest of us was, at the same time, such a very warm and easily approachable
man. And, while I don't recall exactly how the subject arose, Tracy told me
that Dave's vocal on the song "When I Go" sounds so hushed because, when he
was recording it, she was asleep in the bedroom next to the kitchen (where,
you may recall, the CD was recorded), and Dave didn't want to wake her up. I
just thought that behind-the-scene tidbit was quintessentially Dave!

I was at Falcon Ridge for but one day this year. There were many wonderful
performers and performances throughout the day and well into the evening.
But, for me at least, my fondest memory of Falcon Ridge 2002 will be the few,
precious minutes I spent talking with Tracy Grammer. Experiencing her
kindness and grace in this most difficult time, I came away from our brief
conversation feeling uplifted and renewed, a little less sad. Thanks, Tracy.

Regards,
Alan L. Weiner
Collinsville, CT
(Alan from Axtown)