In the music business and in our culture in general, it’s the way of things to seek the spotlight. So many have that inexhaustible need for attention and fame. There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s just the way of things. But, there are also those who are content to stay in the background to support and encourage. They don’t seek out attention as much as they give it and in so doing, they are the ones who change lives both directly and indirectly. In a nutshell, this describes Jackie Guthrie, wife of Arlo Guthrie and mother of Sarah Lee and Cathy Guthrie.
In one of his recent stories, Arlo describes the difference anonymous people make in our lives. To illustrate he tells the story of Joseph and his angry brothers who sells him into slavery. He points out the unnamed person who give innocent Joseph the directions to where his brothers are, which leads him to a pivotal time in history that leads to Moses, David&Goliath and Jesus. It all depended on that one single anonomous person pointing the way.
In many ways, this was Jackie Guthrie. She was mother, wife, friend, spirit, heart and the soul of many of us who traveled through her life. Of course, no more than she was to Arlo, her children and grandchildren.
The first time I met Jackie was in 1993.
