They were financially in trouble at the time — I didn't realize how much when they hired me. In my mind, the problem was that we needed to let the managers do their jobs, and look to the community and government for fundraising.

Ideally, we'd want to work ourselves out of business. There will always be some people who need help. But, ultimately, we want to work to see the numbers going down.

I like the fundraising and the advocacy and meeting with people in the community or the county and City Council people — I think I'm a good connector of people.

She has since remarried and she's volunteering for a domestic-violence shelter herself now.

When I did suit back up and put the Superlatives together, I had a lot of trouble in my mind following ( The Pilgrim ). I was doing a session one day with Cash, and I said, 'You've made lots of brilliantly deep records that weren't on anybody's radar except yours. I'm having a tough time following this Pilgrim thing.' He said, 'The only thing I can tell you is that your next record has to come out of your heart like that one did, or it's just a wasted work. Once you make a record like that, you can't go back and live with yourself.' And he was right.

I have to do something with my mind, or I'll get in trouble.