Tony, the US headquarters for the Italian company I work with was moved from Boston to Atlanta. That's why I've been able to visit with Chas once, and will again on a regular basis.

My contact in Boston was in his mid-80's and working full-time. He retired, and the entire operation was assumed by a fellow who is a sales agent for the brand, located just outside of Atlanta.

Realistically, I won't be coming up to your part of the country anytime soon. I don't do vacations. The last one I had was for 2 days in 1982. I do enough business travel to satisfy my need to get away. Right now, I've got one job which will take about three years to finish. It is the introduction of a new line of power tools to the US...84 SKU's (different models). I'll do naming, advertisments, packaging, Point of Sale displays, training materials, catalogs, etc. That job will require multiple trips to the orient.

After that, I might slow down and travel a little, although growing up an Air Force "brat" and traveling every week for 30 years while a part of corporate America sort of satisfied my need for adventure permanently.

I do have to go to Florida on a regular basis to work on a family trust (orange groves) a few times a year, and may try to tie one of those trips into a stop to see Don Mason and Diki. Chas may be able to go with me on that one...at least I hope so.

Chas will hopefully feel up to a trip to Nashville to go to summer Namm next year, where we'll get to visit Rory again.

The Friday night of NAMM is the only night I take off each year, and there's a chance I'll be working a club on Friday night with a keyboard endorser (not firm yet, but everybody knows him).

I have a full life and enjoy every moment of it. Just wish I had more time to visit my good friends. If I did, you'd be at the top of my list.


Russ

[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 10-28-2009).]