The fiddler in the middle was the star of the show. The man on the right was playing spoons. He was also a terrific dancer. Alan later asked him how old he is. 74. So Alan said, "I bet you want to die doing this." He agreed heartily. The musicians sit down to play, but their feet are stomping and every part of the body is moving.

This was near the hometown of Natalie MacMaster, currently the best-known Cape Breton fiddler. Lauren and Rachel and I saw her live with Prairie Home Companion in San Diego in 2003. She stood up to play and danced at the same time - perhaps a modern variation. One older man told us that fiddlers play faster now than they used to. I wish the great fiddlers of Decorah could have been here with us.