UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER

Well.....for the first time in four years, I will be getting to see my son and his family in Abilene. Connie and I will be departing P'ville on Tues the 6th and pointing her Toyota to the east....uh...actually...we'll start by going south.

Our first stop will be in Torrance to see Connie's daughter and her family. Her grandson, Thatcher, is having a birthday on Saturday but she won't be able to be there so we're going to celebrate a few days early.

After that, we'll head up I-15 to Victorville-Apple Valley to see dear friends Don and Shirley Gerber. You may remember them as the leaders of the "Cedar Grove Bluegrass Band" with whom I played for a couple of years. We're going to "break bread" at a local "Mimi's" for a couple of hours then head north to I-40 at Barstow.

After a couple more days of driving, we'll end up just south of OKC in Moore,OK to see my cousin Danny Phillips and, hopefully, a few other of the Minnicks whom I have yet to meet.

Then, it will be on to Tulsa to see some of Connie's relatives and my dear friends, Red and Patty Polston. I haven't seen Red and his family but one time in the last 4 years and that was when his band, "Halo Jordan", came to Lake Isabella for concerts at two churches there. Connie has an uncle and a cousin there so it will a nice time of visiting.

After Tulsy town we'll depart for Memphis, TN to see her brother, Steve. We will likely spend a couple or three days there then head out for Texas.

Texas...ah, yes; Texas. Our first stop will be deep in the heart of Texas in Abilene. That's where my son and his family live. My grandson, Randall, is 8 now and growing like a weed. I have no doubt that that's a result of someone feeding and watering him regularly. *Sigh* Kids do have a way of growing up. He's my "little buddy" for sure. I'd love to be able to share some of the experience and training I have garnered with him. There's nothing like a little input from grandparents, eh?

If at all possible, I will try to keep a running account of what's happening with Ol' Ran and the trip back yonder.