Welcome home, Jerry. Wish you could have made it to the wilds of coastal California.    I've been doing a lot with music and enjoying it a lot...getting together with local musicians, doing a few gigs on my own and a few with a small string band, mostly freebie benefits for worthy causes. Got sidelined a couple of weeks ago by an asphalt truck which tried to make a left turn right thru me and my little Toyota truck.   Got bounced around pretty hard but no lasting damage, I hope. But the shake-up precipitated some other health problems I'm only now beginning to come out of. I'm hoping to be completely fit by next weekend, though, as I'll be doing a benefit held at a draft horse stud farm right on the coast. Draft horses are one of my most favorite animals, very different from regular horses, with a special vibe all their own, very wise and gentle. I like just hanging out around them and am pinning my hopes on a stable tour, at least.

Please give us your impressions of America as you found it...