Mark Twain's thoughts about the value of travel: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime."

The Petersons from Branson, check them out on YouTube.

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday, October 22, 2025. You were wondering? You would be correct. I did have to look at the calendar to identify today's date. Just another one of those old people deals and it's not that bad especially when you know where to look to find out what date it is. I will worry a lot more whenever I can't remember where to look. Right? Right. Two things stand out from my visit to Branson, Missouri. One was the concert we attended put on by the Petersons. They are a family band with one exception, the fellow who plays the dobro, and, to me, they are one of the best bluegrass and country Gospel groups around. I started watching them on YouTube back during the pandemic and was so happy to see them in person. The second thing I liked was a particular meal we had while there. It was at the Branson Landry's Restaurant. I know. There is one just down the road here in our area, however, there are times when a meal is just right and the one in Branson was that meal. I ordered a cup of their seafood gumbo which I would give maybe a B or B minus, but the entree was the baked redfish accompanied by grilled vegetables and that fish was melt in your mouth delicious. I would rate that dish an A+ and put it maybe in the top 10 I've had in my life. That along with a very cordial waiter and it made for a really great meal experience. The rest of the concerts and meals were like President Reagan's response when asked how his meeting went with Bishop Tutu, to which he responded, "It went so - so." We stayed in a super nice condo and that was an improvement over most of the hotels we've stayed in there. It did have some stairs that were just on the verge of being difficult, not so much going up and down empty handed, but, quite challenging carrying all of our stuff, if you know what I mean Vern. 

 

The wife did the driving up to Branson and back. All of it. The reason? She says my driving is somewhat scary with the floating and weaving here and there that according to her I often do. She went on to say that she can handle it but when folks ride with us, well, we wouldn't want to make them fearful. Okay. I guess that makes me one of those old people scary drivers. I don't notice it at all, but, she does, and, her assessment has been supported by some in our family. I'm not certain they are good witnesses since it would be very hard for them to go against anything she says. I do know there has been a time or two where we could have gone in one vehicle but our kids took their own, because of The Children. I'll not go into my driving record compared to some of my critics because they would claim that has nothing to do with how I see and don't see the road when I'm driving. Oh well, it doesn't bother me that much, it really doesn't, in fact, I'm not bothered at all by their comments, not at all, none, not in the least, if you get my drift. In the meantime, it's time for me to go and fetch Lil Miss Biscuit at the groomer. I will tell you this. Lil Miss Biscuit rides with me often and she has never, not even one time, complained, period. I rest my case. Y'all have yourselves a most wonderful day and remember to remember that God loves and cares for His own. Amen.