Well, the computer came within an nth of crashing (for you doubters, nth is a scrabble word. more of that later), and now it is all new – $$$$ later, and hours and hours of David's work, I have to muddle through. It all looks different. So bear with me.
I don’t even know where and when I left off. I think in Indianapolis, and my birthday party. We parked in front of Rod and Paris’ house. Wayne and Mary Ann (my brother and wife) came to their son’s house (on my invitation) for the occasion, and a good time was had by all. My brother’s grandson is a very intelligent college freshman, aiming for a degree including aircraft 
( So I got one picture in there, not the one I wanted, and I don’t know how I did it, but it is progress)
technology and air traffic controller. For kicks in his spare time, he listens to JFK airport traffic control talk on his Ipod – or some little gismo. My brothers job was to break airplane engine turbines, his son’s job is to build airplane engines, and his grandson’s job will be to tell them all where to go. Wayne thought that was quite a legacy. Indeed it is. All the family brains went to that bunch.
After we left there we went to a beautiful campground in Litchfield, Ill, the heart of Abe Lincoln country. We went to Springfield and saw his house there and heard all the Abe stories. It is all a National Park now, right in the middle of Springfield. We stayed 2 weeks, and it was peaceful there. From our front window all we could see was a beautiful field with trees gradually becoming fallish.
Then we went to Unity Village in Lees Summit, Mo. This was an exploration for us, as we have recently joined a Unity church and were curious to see the birth place of the movement. The rose gardens and fountains brought me to tears, but the buildings are aging, and it seemed pretty sparsely populated to us. Our camping spot there was on the property, out in the woods east of the main campus area. We had one neighbor who was there for classes. We went to Independence and did the Harry S Truman thing, his house and library and museum. Could have spent days there, but were impressed with the depth and reverence given him. It was memorable.
(Actually we went to Hannibal before Unity Village, but I don’t know how to move the paragraphs around)
Then we went to Hannibal Mo for the Mark Twain festival. We met up with our Denver RV club there. We had about 12 rigs there, and travelled about 20 miles from a very nice campground to Hannibal, for the street fair, Mississippi river boat ride and a dinner cruise on the same boat, dinner and a Mark Twain impersonator show. He was good, but no Hal Holbrook. No one could surpass him, but we all enjoyed the show in a very small theater where, we were given to understand, Old Abe himself once stabled his horse (it was once a livery). History everywhere.
Then we went south to Coffeyville to visit Co Chapter Escapee friends who part time work camp there for Amazon.com. They are supervisors now, but work 3-4 months before Christmas sending out all the stuff you all have ordered from Amazon. The town was flooded out 3 years ago, so a lot of the town just isn’t there. History abounds: The Dalton gang was all killed there, as they tried to rob 2 banks at once, in about 18????. The town stood up to them, and they are buried there. It is near b y to Baxterville, where the rush to OK for homestead land took place. I am amazed that it happened there, as that end of Ok is rolling hills and tons of lakes. The lakes may be more recent, the result of dams which I haven’t located yet. but it is beautiful fall here, reminding me of the rolling hills of Arkansas, with lots of water and resorts. We came from Coffeyville to Grove OK, amongst the lakes, and lots of little towns. It is Cherokee country, the most famous of which was Will Rogers. We went to his museum nearby, and found all the wonderful restaurants in a 50 mile area.
From here we will go to Hollister Mo (Branson) to the Escapee park there. I have some work to do on the itinerary before then, but from there we will wander to Livingston Tex, where the Escapee headquarters is. We may be able to volunteer there, full time or a little time. We will be there for Christmas more that likely, and who knows after that. We are cozy and warm as fall turns cooler, still having beautiful days and cool – cold – nights. Punkin is happy as long as a lap is available some part of the day. My hips do well. My body gets stiff with weather changes, but if my body felt as good as the hips I would be dancin!!!!!But alas, my bones tell my age, and the hips enjoy the technology and skill of Dr. Chaing. I shan’t complain as I am so much better than before the 2 surgeries.
Nurse Mary Ann checking my sore foot.
The group at cake time. Paris took the picture. Mary Ann chose a cat clock with a wagging tail for me. Very appropriate. We have it hanging in the coach. 
Wayne and Jimmy on clarinet and trumpet. Jimmy is into jazz and attends a group where he is learning to improvise. Wayne bought himself a clarinet lately is is resuming his old skills. Pretty well I might add. 
