When State Journal-Register reporter John Reynolds visted in early September to interview me about Southwest Airport, what should have been 30 minutes chatting across the living room table became an interesting hour and a half of touring the AeroKnow collection. He posed here for a picture taken by concurrent visitor Kevin Panting, model builder extraordinare.
Loren Jenne met with me
when I was putting Springfield Aviation together in the spring. During that visit we
discovered we had been born exactly 30 years apart: him, September 5, 1917 and me,
September 5, 1947. We agreed to meet on our birthdays this year and to toast each others'
good health, which we did, savoring his favorite Seagram's VO and posing for this picture
which his child bride Hazel kindly snapped for us. 
Cindi (Bilyeu) Allender attended Lawrence Elementary School one year behind me. In a phone call she recently explained how Claudine Mander, a former teacher at Lawrence, who remembered me from the mid-50s and now in her 90s, asked Cindi to purchase my book for her and ask me to autograph it. She came buy Sunday with three books: one for Mrs. Mander, one for her and her husband, and one for her employer, the Illinois Association of School Boards, a private enterprise. I was delighted to see Cindi again and autograph the books.
The October 4 booksigning at Prairie Archives, 522 E. Adams in historical downtown Springfield went well. Proprietor John Paul had cookies and coffee ready, had posted posters in his windows advertising the event and the weather was perfect.
Paul Wells came from Mason City to buy the book. WOW! He's a retired aviation professional, and we spoke the same language for a fast-moving hour's visit. Paul also purchased the last copy of my second book of poetry Wit's End for sale anywhere in the known world, including my hoose. That's earnest author on the right. Believe it or not, I am NOT standing five feet behind him; I was almost on his elbow. Paul's a big fellow, and a solid conversationalist!
Golden Retreiver and greeter at Prairie Archives. Hanna is a "chocoholic" and hovered close by my signing table and the Oreos and Chips Ahoy's placed there by the esteemed proprietor from 11 am until I departed a little after 2. No seemed to be a more attentive book fan than Hanna.one paid more attention to me than Hanna,
A highlight of the signing was a visit by Springfield Business Journal Editor Bridget Ingbrightsen holding her youngest daughter Sheila in the back row and in front from left to right: Dorothy, Loretta and their no-doubt harried brother Steve. Look between the necks of Dorothy and Loretta and discover the face of host John Paul!
Here is the book-meister himself, whom I have been privileged to know for at least 30 years; a gentleman extraordinaire who has sold me more books than any retailer I've known. After the signing, I autographed several copies of Springfield Aviation for him to sell.
My friend Mike George operates the Air Combat Museum at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport where volunteers, supervised by friendly A&P maintainers, come to work on airplanes and help keep the place looking nice. Here a young man polishes the spinner of "Worry Bird," the immaculate P-51D on display there. Mike purchased a CASE of Springfield Aviation and sells them at ACM. (Thanks, Michael!) So when you visit the Capital City, visit the museum AND purchase a copy of my book!
On March 24, I shared the story of Springfield Aviation at Pawnee, Illinois Public Library, thanks to an invitation from directer Bennett Bess and Kevin Panting who generously drove me there and took pictures. My car is not fit for highway driving. Before the presentation I printed several enlargements of pictures included in the book and some not, wrote large-type, concise captions (so visitors could read the information from standing height) and displayed the pictures along with an array of the book.
One of the attendees was actually pictured on page 87, helping attach a target dart to the wing of a 170th TFS F-84F Here he (left) poses with me after the presentation. I signed several books, thanks to good people who had purchased the book before my visit to the Library.nnet
The director is a hardy gentleman; one of just a few people I know who make me look like a bearded nine-year old. His arrangement of the tables and chairs and publicity generated before my visit were absolutely first class. Thanks to Bennett, his staff (who brought cookies) and all who attended. If YOU direct a library or know someone who does, here is your invitation to invite me to your your venue for a similar presentation. writer@eosinc.com
On August 7, I spoke the the monthly meeting of Cherry Hills Baptist Church's OK (Older Kids) Club. My host, pictured above on the right, mentioned in his intruduction that he used to hang around the counter at K's Merchandise Mart where I used to work, when I was helping other customers.just so he could learn about cameras and photography. The club included several former pilots and were a terrific audience. I even met the pastor Jeff Nelson. Super people.
Thanks to Dave (who does not mess with the internet and will never know I've forgotten his last name) and the OK Club for their interest, hospitality and terrific lunch!