It was pretty cold that night and I spent more than my share of time hunkered around the woodburing stove in Shotgun Hall waiting for the music to commence. I had brought along several back and current issues of the magazine and left them near the entrance were folks get an idea of what we’re up to here at the magazine. Also, when I can, I like to stand off to the side and watch the reactions of strangers seeing the publication for the first time.

While I was preoccupied in this enveavor I was taken completely by suprise when in walks an old friend I hadn’t seen in ten years or better. But there stood Kent Finlay, founder of the Cheetham Street Warehouse, "a kind of country club with indoor toilets," located in San Marcos. That was back in the 70’s when you could hear Asleep At The Wheel, Marcia Ball, and Alvin Crow for next to nothing. I understand George Strait played there too, but I reckon I had moved away by that time.

Kent and I also had bit parts in the movie A Small Town in Texas, which was filmed in Wimberly back then, and featured Timmothy Bottoms. (Don’t look for me on the video. My very brief appearance was virtually cropped out when it was formatted for TV.)

Anyway, it was great to meet up with Kent again. He’s what you might call "a musician’s musician." By that I mean he’s done more to encourage and help the careers of other musicians than he’s ever done for himself. Before Kent left that night, I pressed a few copies of ERock Mag in his hands. I never figgured on what happened next.

About a week or so later I recieve a phone call from a feature writer for the San Marcos Record. Said she saw the publication and offered to write an article on the magazine and me. I was a little slow that morning and it took more than a moment for me to figure out it was Diane Finlay, Kent’s other half on the other end of the line. Naturally, I obliged, then kinda forgot about the interview, what with the natural confusion of my life and all.

Then, the phone starts ringing, mail starts pouring in with subscriptions, and in amongst the mail is the article by Diane. A whole front page on Section B with reproductions of several magazine covers and some really well-crafted prose—and I’d of said that even if it had been on someone else. Like I mentioned, I lived in San Marcos in the 70s, but I hadn’t been back there but a few times since. Because of the article I’ve been able to hook up with some long-lost friends and it hasn’t hurt the magazine on the revenue end either.

On top of all that we’ve (that’s Ms. Intrepid and I) made some new friends at the Stage Stop Ranch—that’d be the owners, Troy and Lee. After the article appeared they were kind enough to let us stay at their place, which is one of the better B&Bs in the Hill Country, while we visited my old buddies in San Marcos. By the way, they hold dances every Saturday night in the Shotgun Hall. The event is hosted by Doc Toler and his band, and they feature famous and up-and-coming country musicians.