Dear Everett, Paula and Bogdan,

I mainly turn to those older than me for wisdom and support. When I was younger, as a musician and songwriter, I looked to musicians a generation or two older than me to steer me in the right direction. They served as my sources of instruction, demonstrating through their actions how to behave more or less authentically in the music world. Like most musicians of my generation, I’d often ask myself that perennial question, “What would Bob Dylan do in this situation?” These musicians were my guiding lights. I rarely looked to my peers or contemporaries. Now that I am older, many of these people – my father figures, my mother figures – are no longer with us (Bob Dylan, praise be, remains!), so I tend to look to the assembled dead, those who have withstood the test of time, for direction. I regard the accumulated wisdom of the ages with no small amount of reverence. The answer is invariably there.

My father, a great teacher, died relatively young but had a profound impact on my life – I can still feel his exuberant spirit within me. However, ultimately, it is my mother, who passed away in 2020, who comes to mind when I face a problem and need someone to call upon for guidance. Indeed, I would say that it is mostly women, both living and deceased, whom I seek out for advice. To me, they embody much of the world’s wisdom. I often turn to my wife, Susie, who is genuinely wise. Although her advice can be exasperating and sometimes difficult to hear – indeed, Bogdan, deeply annoying – it is generally sound and ultimately true. And so, in the end, I heed her counsel, and, course corrected, I toddle off down the road, feeling happier, lighter, and a little freer.

Love, Nick

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