Such as it was for Michigan housewife and accountant Jill Jack.  In 1996 her then-husband and daughter were in a car accident that jolted Jack and made her realize life is short and shouldn’t be wasted on wondering about what else there was.  So she began performing her songs around her home state.  Some people might call it starting behind the 8 ball – over 30, child to support, no performance experience to speak of, but Jack took the challenge and has come out the victor. Moon and the Morning After is Jack’s sixth independent release and ranges from smoky blues to acoustic numbers.  The emotion is authentic on tracks such as “Find My Way Home” and “Full Circle,” you can tell these songs come from a place of having experienced life. One of Jacks strength as a songwriter lies in the details she imparts in the lyrics.  On story songs like “Virgil Greene” she outlines the life of a gardener who encounters tragedy.  The folk legend-type tale is told to an upbeat folk-country background, which is common on the album. Jacks’ songs focus on living life, paying attention to the details that surround us, not letting a moment pass without savoring it.  Jill Jack has produced a strong album of material backed by her very capable band.  The guitar playing by Billy Brandt is fantastic and the rhythm section keeps a tight groove behind Brandt and the acoustic guitar of Jack. The disc is available at Jacks website (www.jilljack.com) as well as Amazon and iTunes.