Lake City isn’t a big town. You’re looking at 12,000 folks. Give or take. It’s one of those old Florida towns. It’s hard to find Old Florida anymore. You can’t find it in Orlando—too many mouse-ear hats. It’s hard to find in Tallahassee—too many congressmen. You can’t find it in Miami—too much incoming fire.
And what a GREAT night it was in Lake City….like Skip, my birthplace and born the same year……in fact 11 days apart! I enjoyed hearing you play banjo with Matt on clarinet…..very nice duo! As for solo, I always love hearing your “Mona Lisa”….and “Will the Circle be Unbroken” was a fantastic group closing. The best part of all, however, was the laughter that surrounded me! My dearest friend sitting beside me contributed in nonstop laughter…..from hearing your pound cake story to the Sear’s husky department! Behind me was a guy who had a laugh I could listen to for the rest of my life! Between my friend and the stranger I was in 7th Heaven! What a needed gift, Sean, bringing the house down….not only by applause and a standing ovation….but continuous audience laughter, indeed good medicine for the soul!
The world needs more stories like this. Everyone has at least one degree these days. Little kids have to start banjo lessons (skating, basketball, etc.) at age five if they expect to ever climb to the top of the heap, or so it seems. Walt Disney went bankrupt several times before building Disneyland. Stories about people defying the odds raise the courage meter of the country.
What a night in my hometown on Saturday. Thanks for sharing your love of good music and good people. Life is amazing & we should never left anyone anywhere tell us what we are capable of & what we should do. The Lord made us and with Him absolutely anything is possible.
Sean, “keep on keeping on”.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up His countenance[a] upon you and give you peace.”
Sean, my husband and I got to see Skip Johns and the Songfarmers in White Springs, Florida quite by chance. We were camping at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, heard some music and followed the sound via bicycle and ended up having a memorable musical evening ending with “I’ll Fly Away”. I sure hope I can catch the next time all of you are onstage together!
Thank you my dear friend for these loving and inspirational words of wisdom keep them stories coming and I’ll keep reading what a beautiful treasure you truly are 🙏
Pone, I'll never fergit when Dat pompous journalism professor told you Dat you could never do dis. You looked right at me and said, "Hey Pube, hold my Pabst!" And you been gettin it in all 4 gears ever since. Yassir! You showed him how da cornbread was buttered!
“Never say that you can't do something, or that something seems impossible, or that something can't be done, no matter how discouraging or harrowing it may be; human beings are limited only by what we allow ourselves to be limited by: our own minds. We are each the masters of our own reality; when we become self-aware to this: absolutely anything in the world is possible. Master yourself, and become king of the world around you. Let no odds, chastisement, exile, doubt, fear, or ANY mental virii prevent you from accomplishing your dreams. Never be a victim of life; be it's conqueror.”
— Mike Norton
Keep conquering those words, Sean, and I’ll keep reading them❣️
“In fact, it took me 10 years to realize that I have no talent for writing.”
Sean,
An aeronautical engineer will tell you that the lowly bumblebee is not aerodynamically able to fly. Fortunately for the bee it has never consulted with the engineer.
It also appears that there are thousands of us who have no talent for reading thus forming a perfect match.
Sean, in my book you can do it all. You are a modern day renaissance man that also plays the banjo. I’ve seen you on the big stage at the Opry and look forward to seeing you in a smaller venue one day soon.
I love a feel good, down home story, and you never disappoint me with yours. Thank you for the many smiles you’ve bestowed on me. I had 2 strokes one week ago today and am overjoyed that God didn’t take my ability to read, as I would sure miss your beautiful words.
Amen to folks like you and Skip. Never give up. My daddy bought his first Gibson when he was 8 years and taught himself to play. Then some old gizzer came along when daddy was 10 and asked if he wanted to buy his mandolin. Daddy told him he didn't know nuttin about a mandolin he had just got a good licking on that old guitar. The man said I only Want $8.00 Fer it. Daddy had him a mandolin and became a darn good mandolin player. He and his sister played everywhere. Even played a few gigs on the radio, some in Merrit Island, Cocoa Beach and around NC. He played on up until he passed away at 83. He lost interest in the guitar mostly stuck with mandolin. He like Bill Monroe style. He was good. So was my Aunt Lois. I miss hearing them play and sing. But like you said never give up. ..you can always learn new things if you stick with it. I have both those fine instruments to this day. I'm positive they are worth a pretty penny. But I will never be the one to sell them...priceless..💕
And what a GREAT night it was in Lake City….like Skip, my birthplace and born the same year……in fact 11 days apart! I enjoyed hearing you play banjo with Matt on clarinet…..very nice duo! As for solo, I always love hearing your “Mona Lisa”….and “Will the Circle be Unbroken” was a fantastic group closing. The best part of all, however, was the laughter that surrounded me! My dearest friend sitting beside me contributed in nonstop laughter…..from hearing your pound cake story to the Sear’s husky department! Behind me was a guy who had a laugh I could listen to for the rest of my life! Between my friend and the stranger I was in 7th Heaven! What a needed gift, Sean, bringing the house down….not only by applause and a standing ovation….but continuous audience laughter, indeed good medicine for the soul!
Who of us would be anywhere if we listened to all the folks who said you can’t do it?
The world needs more stories like this. Everyone has at least one degree these days. Little kids have to start banjo lessons (skating, basketball, etc.) at age five if they expect to ever climb to the top of the heap, or so it seems. Walt Disney went bankrupt several times before building Disneyland. Stories about people defying the odds raise the courage meter of the country.
Oh, but you can write! You come up with the best ideas and people to write about. I don’t know how you do it every day! Just keep doing it.
What a night in my hometown on Saturday. Thanks for sharing your love of good music and good people. Life is amazing & we should never left anyone anywhere tell us what we are capable of & what we should do. The Lord made us and with Him absolutely anything is possible.
Sean, “keep on keeping on”.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up His countenance[a] upon you and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
Sean, my husband and I got to see Skip Johns and the Songfarmers in White Springs, Florida quite by chance. We were camping at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, heard some music and followed the sound via bicycle and ended up having a memorable musical evening ending with “I’ll Fly Away”. I sure hope I can catch the next time all of you are onstage together!
Thank you my dear friend for these loving and inspirational words of wisdom keep them stories coming and I’ll keep reading what a beautiful treasure you truly are 🙏
Pone, I'll never fergit when Dat pompous journalism professor told you Dat you could never do dis. You looked right at me and said, "Hey Pube, hold my Pabst!" And you been gettin it in all 4 gears ever since. Yassir! You showed him how da cornbread was buttered!
Votre Ami,
Pubert Earle "Pabst" Bozsemann
“Never say that you can't do something, or that something seems impossible, or that something can't be done, no matter how discouraging or harrowing it may be; human beings are limited only by what we allow ourselves to be limited by: our own minds. We are each the masters of our own reality; when we become self-aware to this: absolutely anything in the world is possible. Master yourself, and become king of the world around you. Let no odds, chastisement, exile, doubt, fear, or ANY mental virii prevent you from accomplishing your dreams. Never be a victim of life; be it's conqueror.”
— Mike Norton
Keep conquering those words, Sean, and I’ll keep reading them❣️
“In fact, it took me 10 years to realize that I have no talent for writing.”
Sean,
An aeronautical engineer will tell you that the lowly bumblebee is not aerodynamically able to fly. Fortunately for the bee it has never consulted with the engineer.
It also appears that there are thousands of us who have no talent for reading thus forming a perfect match.
Wish I could have been there……your talent as a storyteller is huge. You have quickly become a top favorite of mine here on Substack.
Sean, in my book you can do it all. You are a modern day renaissance man that also plays the banjo. I’ve seen you on the big stage at the Opry and look forward to seeing you in a smaller venue one day soon.
All you do is filled with blessings. Keep doing what you do best, Sean. Writing, singing, playing, storytelling, and making people laugh. What a gift!
I love a feel good, down home story, and you never disappoint me with yours. Thank you for the many smiles you’ve bestowed on me. I had 2 strokes one week ago today and am overjoyed that God didn’t take my ability to read, as I would sure miss your beautiful words.
Sean, I’m no So-crates but your comment about having no talent is illogical and contradictory to the fact that you’re a syndicated writer.
Amen to folks like you and Skip. Never give up. My daddy bought his first Gibson when he was 8 years and taught himself to play. Then some old gizzer came along when daddy was 10 and asked if he wanted to buy his mandolin. Daddy told him he didn't know nuttin about a mandolin he had just got a good licking on that old guitar. The man said I only Want $8.00 Fer it. Daddy had him a mandolin and became a darn good mandolin player. He and his sister played everywhere. Even played a few gigs on the radio, some in Merrit Island, Cocoa Beach and around NC. He played on up until he passed away at 83. He lost interest in the guitar mostly stuck with mandolin. He like Bill Monroe style. He was good. So was my Aunt Lois. I miss hearing them play and sing. But like you said never give up. ..you can always learn new things if you stick with it. I have both those fine instruments to this day. I'm positive they are worth a pretty penny. But I will never be the one to sell them...priceless..💕