Hello Phil,
Good to hear from you. Smokey Mountain is another one building. But like a lot of Festivals, there are always cost issues that go with them. Frank Brown even had to cut back this year on venues and size. For the past 8 years or so, BP has been funding a lot of the festival, due to the GULF OIL SPILL in 2010. I guess that money has run out and they are back to having to fund it themselves. Festivals are extroidinarily expensive and have to have big corporate sponsors like banks to survive. It's another reason why most of them never last very long. Frank Brown surviving 33 years is pretty amazing. And abnormal.
I do understand about not volunteering as well. Takes up a lot of time. But it does give you access to a lot of the writers and people you'd like to talk to. So will look forward to it.
Well, yesterday, as you probably know, we lost Susie Martin. She passed away in her sleep about 9:00 am. But she was not in pain, which was great. Tommy, her husband and his daughter were there and it was peaceful. Susie has had a really bad year with Esophogael, Liver and spinal cancer. It just wasted her away. She fought hard, but it just didn't help. We were lucky to have her. She hosted all the parties, cooked, was always there to brighten up all of our lives.
She improved every situation she was in.
She improved every situation she was in.
Yesterday evening a close group of us got together to be with Tommy, bring food, drinks over. Was a very nice get together, shared a few memories, and basically drank a few toasts to her. Tommy is handling it well and there are a lot of people willing to help him get through the next few months. Phil, one of his proudest things, was bringing out the card you sent. That was really great, the card being sentimental, and yet your "special message" Don't listen to OD, I love you best..." was the most perfect thing! LOL! That was great and he really enjoyed showing that around to everyone.
I think you won the day there bud. Thanks for doing that.
See you in a few weeks.
MAB
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