It is hard to realize that 2005 would have marked John's 50th year of creating music since his start at Memphis' Sun Records in February of 1955.

During this almost half-century, there have been so many individuals, like myself, who were privileged to be a part of what John referred to as his "inner circle". Some stayed in the circle longer than others. Like moons in an orbit, we gravitated in and out of planet Johnny. All who really knew him, also knew this to be true. Although he was keen on "out of sight, out of mind" due to the very nature of constant schedule demands on his time, once you were in John's good graces, there you always remained. To this day, calendars or clocks need not be consulted to sustain a Cash family relationship.

Many recent books are published and available now on Johnny Cash, all with their place in the greater niche of retrospective Cash annals. I Still Miss Someone is unique in that it only strives to accomplish a respectful tribute to Johnny Cash. There are over forty chapter contributors, none of them career writers, but all well-versed in things Cash. There is no, nor would there be, any real way to gather all of John's family and friends into one tribute volume. No grandiose book could be so all-encompassing. Mostly, there is not, nor would there be, any reliable source to identify fifty years of Johnny's 'inner circle'. The names often changed with time, as did some of these personalities and many of their addresses. Hundreds were fortunate, or blessed, or even lucky to have known Johnny Cash outside of the sparkle and lure of celebrity. Many members of the clergy were drawn to John's honest thirst for spiritual knowledge. Simultaneously, they were pillars of strength during John's struggles, helping him embrace his Biblical philosophy of "Never let adversity get you down, except on your knees to pray."

I Still Miss Someone is candid and straightforward short stories and essays from a token sampling of the entire sum of people, most out of the public eye, who knew Johnny Cash as a friend. Two renowned photographers, who only met John once, recount their images. Family members' chapters are proudly included. It is an honor that they have blessed this uncomplicated book with viable, insightful and heart-touching recollections that John Cash kin could only share.

The writers and their respective chapters in I Still Miss Someone are listed alphabetically. This is the book's only semblance of symmetry. Each chapter has its own length and dimension created by these various "Cashologists", my own term for people who knew John.

This book contains no profanity or nudity or dancing bears or celebrity testimonials. And, as John often said on-stage describing his own concerts,"contains no flying pigs or exploding bails of hay." However, someone in this book does refer to Johnny as "booger bear".Several contributors here do have books published, or should have. Some writing in these pages could fill entire compositions themselves, when recalling their Johnny Cash-filled past. Aside from John's direct family, there is an eclectic mix of individuals gathered here for I Still Miss Someone. Each with their own personal take on whatever exclusive relationship they shared with Johnny Cash.
Luther Fleanor cared for John's grapes at Bon Aqua for over twenty years.
Bill Walker was John's only musical arranger and conductor of choice.

Michelle Rollins had the pleasure of countless years of Cash / Jamaican Christmas celebrations.

By request, Garland Craft played piano at Mother Maybelle Carter's funeral service and at June Carter's funeral service and in September 2003, at John's.
Pat Katz attended over five hundred Johnny Cash concerts.

John L. Smith shared an undying love of Native Americana with John, aside from four books he's had published concerning Cash recordings.
John Cash threw his younger brother Tommy off of a twelve-foot-high bridge.
Dave Rorick was hired by John to back Cash in concert with a musical style Dave didn't know, using an instrument Dave didn't own.
John probably didn't remember his first meeting with Dr. Nat Winston.
Dennis Devine has had "Johnny Cash is a friend of mine" on his tombstone for over a decade, and Dennis is still very much alive.
Ted Rollins and John invented a new sport embracing gallantry and golf balls.
Merle Kilgore was best man at John and June's wedding.
Penni Lane chased John around the stage with hair spray.
Irene Gibbs had Rev. Billy Graham and Sheriff Buford "Walking Tall" Pusser in her office at the same time - on her first day working for John.
Alan Messer was told by John not to photograph him picking his nose.
John gave his daughter Kathy a gun for a wedding present, when she married Jimmy Tittle; he gave Jimmy a book.
Chance Martin met John flipping cards.
Jack Shaw met John by chance, on a prayer, a missed turn and a fluke.
WS "Fluke" Holland watched trucks go off cliffs and was the only road-managing drummer Johnny Cash ever had.
Jay Abend shot John and Waylon and Brooke Shields together.
Lou Robin could have actually been shot in Ireland.
Johnny Cash and Johnny Western could shoot and got cash for being in westerns.
Jack Hale learned of French horns in England.

Me, well I filled in on drums for a few Cash tours and managed not to get fired after I told John that I had pushed girls around the House of Cash building on Buddy Holly's motorcycle. (The Indian bike, on loan from Waylon after the closing of his own Nashville museum, was exhibited in Johnny's museum, and as it wouldn't start, this was the only way the girls could officially say "they had ridden Bubby Holly's motorcycle.") However, John did fire me on other occasions, for other reasons.

And so, these I Still Miss Someone stories go on.

This book makes no false pretense. This book only verifies that every individual contributor of photos and words herein, equally in their own capacity and understanding, loved and admired and respected John R Cash. Additionally, remembrances by family members, ranging from brother to son to brother-in-law to grandson to sister and daughters, reveal the passion of a man who knew well his Arkansas roots and respected his Cash name and legacy.

I Still Miss Someone contains no major biographical or personal Cash revelations. Those stories of fact and fiction, have all been written.
Actually, the only real "dirt" on Johnny Cash, other than that from his Bon Aqua garden, might be that John slipped a cigarette in here and there after telling folks he'd quit; or that, despite doctor's orders, John continued to be stealthy, not healthy, while eating fried pork rinds from Center Point Barbecue in Hendersonville; or that on "rare" circumstances he might have driven "slightly" over the legal posted speed limit. However, every story inevitably weaves that perpetual Johnny Cash message of sin and redemption. Someone once asked me, "How many personalities did Johnny Cash have?" I immediately responded, "All of them!" And many of them are revealed in these pages.

John Cash had "itchy feet". He would say this over time, on numerous occasions. Metaphorically, it was his expression for readiness and love of movement and exposure and exploration and revelation. He told me, "Everyone has itchy feet and some scratch more than others." With few exceptions, after a couple of days in one place, Johnny Cash was ready to scratch that travel itch.
In keeping with this "itchy feet" spirit of mobility, each writer's shoe size is listed at the beginning text of their chapters.

As each new chapter debuts, there are no cumbersome, italicized paragraphs with the author's biography. Each writer introduces themselves and reveals their Johnny Cash relationship, as they wish. Holding this book together is neither glue nor thread. The force binding this book is Johnny Cash.

I Still Miss Someone is many persons with itchy feet, all relative, and some actual relatives, whose life paths, by favorable destiny, crossed into that line walked by Johnny Cash.

Hugh Waddell, Joelton, Tennessee USA