Saturday I attended a local pickin'. I recall the days when I could not wait to make these events, but so many things have changed in their organization. Host of them usually start out with great & wonderful intentions,but somehow the stage becomes a huge mess of too many pickers on it at one time & no real sense of anyone trying to keep time. A "King of the Hill" atmosphere has taken over & although I have cut the number of them I attend down I am leaning toward ceasing going at all. I miss the days of forming a circle & everyone had an opportunity to participate even if they were just starting out on an instrument.