It was great to see some friends at MSU briefly again. Enjoyed going for some walks along the lake. In a very cryptic way, the day was full circle but I'll leave that between God and me. Beautiful sunset! 

I was shocked and saddened to hear the news about the passing of Akiko Tsuruga. I was blessed to hear the Jeff Hamilton Organ Trio twice in which Akiko played organ. They were pretty magical moments. If you can't tap your foot to this group, you just won't ever tap your foot. I got to meet Akiko once and she was as sweet as could be. I just received the trio's new CD in the mail, and haven't even gotten to listen to it yet. I pray for the jazz community, Akiko's family, and my dear friend Jeff. 

It was great to hear Lij play again. 

I was also able to go to President Lincoln's birthplace and boyhood home. Truly inspirational to witness where he came from and how he ended up president. Sure miss him. 

I have gone past the exit to Mammoth Caves so many times but always was on some kind of time schedule. So with no must arrival time I took the liberty to go and finally check this out. I just did the self guided tour. Glad I did it, probably a one time visit. 

It was a blessing to just get away and have some down time. Most of my time was taken up with watching dolphins and sunsets. 

Labor Days have always been a pretty good day for me throughout my life. In the old days I would go to or play in high school at the Detroit Jazz Festival. Then in 1987 I was in Las Vegas with the McDonalds All-American Band playing on the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Then there were many years I went to the Chicago Jazz Festival and saw many greats. I went once with a mentor of mine Bruce Early. But the past years it's always the Detroit Jazz Festival. Last year I was trying to drive down from my gig in Mackinaw Island to see Samara Joy but traffic was too bad despite all I had to do was stay on I-75 the whole way. My favorite Labor Day was after my job was done at MSU at the Detroit Jazz Festival, I went to the airport in Detroit and picked up Talia to bring back to Lansing to start our life together there. We got married in July but she had to finish up in Phoenix. Officially moved to Lansing in Sept. This year I flew back from FL to play gigs in Flint and Traverse City  then flew back down here for my last week before driving back. Then spent time on one of my favorite places the jetty in Nokomis. Saw the beginning of a water spout! Ironically I only live 3 miles from I-75. I missed being in Detroit this year with many friends playing but was able to catch some online including Herlin Riley and Branford Marsalis. All in all, labor days have been good in my life. The worst one was when I accepted a green sheet gig when I was in the union and did a parade dodging horse poop. Glad I don't do those anymore!  Traveling this weekend brought up many fun memories of Talia. She was so funny to travel with. Again, there are always firsts you don't think about. Like I got this ice with a drink and she would always want to go to sonics because she liked the ice there. Her idea of fun was going to a hotel and getting road service and being by the ice machine and having her Coca Cola . She also didn't like to talk to me in public so even though I was sitting next to her she would text me! LOL She also would get upset that I would turn my phone on when we landed thinking we had to be told when we could turn it on! LOL Also she would want to wait until everyone passed us before we left the plane. LOL We had fun!