Once upon a time in my youth, I made many trips to Nashville, peddling songs and trying to become a published songwriter. It was my Mecca. Alas, that didn’t happen and I fell into a writing career instead. But I still loved Nashville with its creative energy and wonderful music. I’ve been trying to get back there for years.
At last, this summer I made it. It felt like coming home!
 But home wasn’t as I remembered. Music Row, with its charming old houses all turned into recording studios and offices for publishers is no more. It’s all high rises… except for the few quaint houses that have been turned into hair salons or lawyers’ offices. I must admit, that was painful to see.
But songwriters are still there, working their craft, and all my old music buddies were still there, too, although they’ve moved on to other pursuits – one became a minister, another is a professor, and my dear friend who I wrote so many songs with became a writer and is now teaching online spirituality classes. But all happy and all doing well. And being together again, the years fell away.
In addition to checking out the city including the amazing Country Music Hall of Fame – a must for any music fan – I got to go dancing at The Wild Horse Saloon, ate Southern at The Cracker Barrel, and, to top it all off, was able to celebrate the release of my latest Moonlight Harbor novel, SAND DOLLAR LANE at the Barnes and Noble in Brentwood. What a fun party!
I never became a songwriting legend. I probably won’t ever become a literary legend either. But I’m happy doing what I’m doing and brightening my own little corner of the world. I think in our own family histories we can all become a bit of a legend, don’t you? For what do you want to be remembered?