This set of songs circles around the universal theme of freedom versus security—the soul’s freedom to discover and affirm the self, the heart’s longing to hold and be held. “Though I’ve wished for an intimate lover, I’ve also been dissolving my chains. Not really surprised to discover one’s loss is the other one’s gain.” (Killing My Time)I pretty much settled the issue for myself many years ago when the heart found in Love what the soul sought.But the songs were written, and needed to be sung and strung together for those of you on the perpetual journey who must choose among the various roads branching this way and that, wondering what lay along the ones not taken.I am grateful to and in admiration of the wonderful musicians who played with me on this album. They are some of Alaska’s best: My son Matt Faubion on mandolin, lead guitar and harmony vocals; my musical brother Tom Torvie on bass; randy Pasley on dobro and banjo; John Schlomer on harmonica; Mary Schallert’s fiddling; Bob Horwitz on clarinet, Billy Neumeister on drums; Daniel Comer on piano; and background vocalists Hannah Yoter, “Hurricane Dave” Rush, and Meg Anderson. Thank you, my friends.