When I was ten I went to summer camp. (this haircut is why they called me Mason Reese) I was obsessed with climbing trees, and the with coolest counselor, Mindy Jostyn. She played the guitar for us every night and sang. I got the solos at the end of the summer when we performed "Country Road" by John Denver and "Oh, Baby Baby it's a Wild World" by Cat Stevens. (swoon)

Mindy also had an amazing green bikini, and a killer tan. So of course, I wanted some day to be tan and have a green bikini too.

I never got the bathing suit, or a convincing tan, but my dad, after I begged for two years, got me a guitar for christmas.  It was a Yamaha nylon string guitar. Impossible for tiny hands to really master, but I didn't care. I was on my way. Mindy taught me those first chords that I never forgot.

She went on to play with John Mellencamp, the Hooters, and made a couple of her own beautiful records. She passed on a few years ago, way too soon. I came across this picture today and had to give her some props. Thank you for everything Mindy.