I’m excited to be in Pandora with only one degree of separation between me and Patty Griffin – one of my great musical heros.  It’s a small thing really – but the world is shrinking.

I tried to get a letter to Patty once.  It was after a concert that she gave at the Wiltern Theatre in LA.  I walked up to the stage and asked if there was any way I could get a note to Patty.  I handed an envelope, to her stage manager, which contained “Trust the Sky” and a brief note.  I don’t know if she ever got it – but it felt like it was worth a try.

I’ll post it here on the ridiculously remote chance that she will ever read it.

April 10, 2010

Dear Patty,

I have no idea if you will ever read this – but it’s an interesting exercise…

If you could write a letter to one of your musical heros, what would you say?  You might speak in superlatives and say, “thank you” — you might “gush” — and feel like an idiot, wishing you could think of something better to say.

It blows my mind the lifetimes that you can contain in a song – the flash point that must flicker in your brain – the connections – the memories – the souls – the loss – the melody – your words…   The depth and breadth of what you have accomplished is far-reaching.

Maybe in some small way – you were once where I am now – and even though I am far behind you, I am on the same path.  I thought I would try to extend this gesture to you — to share, somehow, in what I am doing and tell you that you have been a huge source of inspiration.

Thank you so much for what you do.   paula mcmath