Captain’s Log, Stardate 2022.2.6. The final day of the Red River Songwriter’s Festival is in the books. In the morning yesterday, we drank Bloody Mary’s and listened to music. In the afternoon, we watched as songs were sung in the round. And in the evening the stars of the show, the organizers (Josh Grider, Drew Kennedy, Walt Wilkins, Susan Gibson, Kelley Mickwee) gathered on the main stage. They sang, they talked, they laughed and made a most joyful noise.

And if you came, expecting them to speak in the language of each artist as the apostles on Pentecost, you would have been disappointed. Instead, each of the Red River songwriters performed as notes in a song of love and companionship. They provided a rousing climax to a symphony that started last Thursday and played itself out over three days of solos by each artist, ensembles, and rousing guest performances (Jason Eady, Courtney Patton). It was three days of love cemented by the multitudes in attendance.

And with that, today is the day of our departure. There are still stops to be made, and things to do, but the mission is drawing to a close. And it was indeed a voyage of discovery. I’ve discovered that cloud nine is a real place, and there is peace and music in the Red River valley. I also discovered that this festival is a pilgrimage of sorts, a gathering of fans, believers who journey great distances, in some cases, to affirm their belief in the music and perhaps even in themselves. To say, yes, I’m human and I sing songs of love.

John W. Wilson is the author of the Long Goodbye: A Caregiver’s Tale