Turned out I had nothing to worry about.
Reviews were kind and readers even kinder.
Ill just catch you up with my comings and goings this past year.
I feel like Ive bought so much, its time to start selling it back.
Beyond celebrating pots pleasures, though, I remain a staunch advocate of its vital agricultural and medical benefits.
This past summer was the thirtieth anniversary of Farm Aid.
Im also sad and pissed that, after all this time, the small farmer is still struggling.
In 1985, when this effort to help the small farmer began, we raised $7 million.
Now that number has grown to $48 million.
Its a damn shame that the small farmer is still marginalized.
On the other hand, I do think, in a small way, weve been able to help.
Beyond the money raised, weve also raised the public consciousness.
Farmers markets have sprouted up everywhere.
Real progress has been made, especially when it comes to spreading information about farm products.
The proliferation of social media, for instance, has generated intelligent discussion.
All forms of communication help, especially when it starts at the grass-roots level.
Corporate-owned newspapers and magazines can be biased, but nowadays folks are looking beyond that.
Folks are hungry for the truth.
Consumers are educating themselves about where and how food is grown.
And thats a good thing.
Allow me to conclude this little P.S.
on a couple of musical notes.
I never like straying too far from the music.
I recently recorded a tribute album to my dear friend Ray Price, one of my early mentors.
I also just left the studio where I completed another new album, this one composed of Gershwin songs.
Along with other geniuses like Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, the Gershwins are among Americas greatest songwriters.
Interpreting Gershwin in my own peculiar way has been a big thrill and another career high point.
Enough talk about me.
Im talking about Waylon Jennings.
Thats the world at least on this bus that Im living in today.
For that reason, and many others, I consider myself a very fortunate man.
Copyright 2015 by Willie Nelson.
Postscript copyright 2016 by Willie Nelson.
Used with permission of Little, Brown and Company, New York.
