My Mother, the Smiler.

In his book 'Here Is New York' EB White says that to live in New York you must have a 'willingness to be lucky.' When I think of my mother, I think of someone who has a willingness to be happy. Despite difficulties in her life, despite troubles with ill-health, her natural pre-set is a happy disposition. It hasn't come easy at times...but I think this photograph captures something of her spirit.

My Father, the Cowboy.

My Dad's father was very interested in cowboy culture, the legends of the west. Odd perhaps for a man from Manchester, England. My Dad picked up his interest in country music...and suffered years of abuse from family members because of it. My Dad liked Dolly Parton many years before it was cool to like Dolly Parton. He admired would-be gunslingers and outlaws like Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash, but he really adored the women of country - the likes of Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn. Odd then that his son should find himself living in Texas. Revenge of some sort, you might call it.

Recently he visited Austin again, where he served as Best Man at my wedding. He felt it was a great honor, but the honor was all mine. It always has been. While he was here he bought his first cowboy hat.  You'd have thought he was born to wear it, so well did it become him. My father, the cowboy.

Pardon the Interruption.

I was busy getting married.