Back Online

After being gone for nearly three weeks, and trying my darnedest to stay unplugged, I'm back online. My husband Terry and I were in Alaska for most of our "away" time. We re-entered the world of the lower forty-eight on Monday, July 26th, picked up our car at Dulles Airport and drove to upstate New York. We had plans to visit our daughter and son-in-law, go to Woodstock and then on the Saratoga for part of the summer racing meet.

And then we were home, sleeping in our own bed, and not living out of the back of a car or a suitcase. Still, the time away, even though I could not get completely unplugged, was worth it. I have tons of material for this blog; ideas for story twists for upcoming novels; great pictures to work into who-knows-what; and a fresh perspective on the world around me.

I feel like I'm coming out of a creative hibernation with a mind that is tumbling with ideas. Stay tuned.

It's Time

Terry and I went to the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's closing concert on Saturday. A tribute to Woodstock, the orchestra performed with Jeans and Cadillacs, a cover band from Canada. The music was wonderful and reminded me that Woodstock and the decades on either side formed the soundtrack of my life.

I haven't seen as much tie-dye, bell bottoms, love beads, head bands, and Birkies in one place in decades. It was wonderful.

The best moment, however, was unscripted. The leader of the cover band set up one song by saying this was an anthem of families waiting for vets to come home. He asked the crowd to give a round of applause to all Vietnam vets in the audience. We stood and cheered for five minutes. Unscripted, spontaneous.

We didn't thank our war fighters when they came home. It's past time, but it's never too late. Thank a veteran from any war or peacetime today. You'll feel better for doing so. (End of political comment.)