Why did the Turtle Cross the Road?

(Note: All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.)

Newspaper article pics are up! Scroll down to the blog entry before this one.

I'm a hero now... So I was pulling out onto a winding two lane just after leaving Lance's house in north St Louis and I came upon what looked to be a rock sitting on the road ahead. It was a fairly big rock... wait! That's not a rock, that's a turtle trying to cross the road!!! So I swerved around the thing and pulled over into a gravel driveway immediately ahead and ran back to the turtle while waving traffic around the clueless fella. I'm dedicating this song to Sandy, the turtle and all those other people or animals who have had or wanted a hero in their lives. See the pic...



First off - April, May, & June Journey pics are up!

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Rewind to Wednesday of last week. I wanted to go to Joplin, Missouri for the tournament there, but I had no housing that I wouldn't have to pay for. Know that I've paid a total of $5 for housing on the Journey America thus far and wasn't thinking of changing that streak. So I called my Dad and told him the issue and he told me to come on in to Milo (I was in my home in Groveport, Ohio) and he had some leftover spagetti we could nuke up and talk about it together. By the time I arrived he was on the phone with an Irish Bed & Breakfast in a town 10 miles east of Joplin. 'What a great idea!' I thought. Well it was, because although they were unable to take my piping services as they already had entertainment, they were able to refer my father on to another bed & breakfast right in Joplin... They said they would be happy to have me! So thanks a ton Dad... I'm gone!
So I hit the road, Joplin bound in Summer, my ol' Bimmer convertible. That night I stayed with my good friend, Lance Vodicka (see pic) who is also on the tour. The next day I hit a bit with Lance on his own private court (see video of Lance's brother Bob and me on the home court, taped by Lance.)



Then I was off to Joplin, a four hour drive from Lance's house. I arrived there, signed in, visited the bus of Johnny Blazed, then headed to the Bit of Eden Bed & Breakfast. While there I found out that I was already scheduled to do a 7pm gig for the townspeople in the B & B front yard. It was about 5:30pm at the time. They had flyers out all over the place already and 33 people ended up showing up. The gig went well and the townspeople really enjoyed the pipes. Not to mention I got to meet some really neat people too (see pics.)







I had a match the next day at about 2pm. I didn't do well. I was out of practice and was up against a hard hitting, big serving opponent. It made for an ugly loss that I'm not too proud of.

I stayed in town for another two nights, as the Meekers graceously offered me a stay as long as I needed. About the Meekers, they are an older couple that were both schoolteachers but now retired. Marge is 75 and Bill is 80. You would never know if you met them they were that old. Bill gets up around 5:30am every morning and takes a long walk before beginning work on one of his newest house projects. Let me tell you, Bill is about the most interesting artist with an incredibly diverse portfolio of works that I have ever seen. He does everything from paint (every picture in the entire house!) to interior and exterior architectural design projects (see videos!) Marge is a writer and writes short romance stories. She is also an incredibly sweet lady with a big heart. She made me breakfast every morning exactly how I wanted it, plus much more. I was always healthily stuffed after breakfast. She also went on to make me lunch and dinner nearly every day too. Marge basically adopted me while I was there and I was definitely spoiled.



The amazing story of Bill & Marge

One day, I think it was last Sunday, Bill, Marge and I were sitting down in there living room downstairs having a great discussion when Marge decided to tell me an amazing story. Marge knew Bill for an entire two weeks before they got married and only one week before Bill proposed. They've been married for 54 years now! Imagine the guts it must have taken Bill to ask the question so soon! They scheduled the Wedding immediately for one week later and they're still together to this day. This story got me thinking... a lot. Even back then Bill & Marge's quick Wedding was a big exception to the rule, but what an amazing and beautiful thing.

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On Sunday night I drove back to Lance's in Saint Louis, and I stayed there until Thursday morning. In that time Lance and I trained intensely together, fellowshiped, and got some work done around his house. It was an awesome time and I'm looking forward to coming through there again in October. Thursday morning I got up early to drive to Columbus, as my flight was to go from Columbus to Greensboro that day at 4:51pm ET, for a wedding this Sunday in Concord. At the same time Lance was to leave to India to play in the Futures Tournaments there for 3-6 weeks. All went smoothly on my end, but Lance had a one night layover in Newark, as his first flight out was cancelled. He should be in India now though.

Here's a pic of Lance, his older brother Bob, and me at their home.


I am staying with Julie Sawyer (a fellow pro and good friend of mine - the one who gave me my stringer) now in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Yesterday was a great training day and I hope to do it all again today. I'll be greyhounding/flying back to Columbus on Monday to be with my family.

Signing off...

~ Nate