Glad you like it, BJ. I am still struck by the power of what Katie said all those years ago, and I like how the music turned out. It's one of the hard things about being a composer, though: I'm never sure whether the emotion of a piece of music will translate into someone else's ears or not.
Teaching in Michigan...hmmmm...the thought has crossed my mind. Still a little too in love with red rocks and sagebrush, I guess.