I was lookin' out the window, across the valley here to the south bluff of the frozen Illinois River in the distance on this very cold December morning. We have a great view of the sweeping bend here at Peru. The towboats are almost too far away to see 'em well, but with good binoculars, I can watch those just fine! It's important to me, ever since I sang on Miss. River steamboats all those years, that I stay "in touch" with THE RIVER.

While watching that scene, this verse popped into my head. PLEASE, to paraphrase Harry Carey exhorting the Cubs, once again, to come from behind, "LET'S GET MORE VERSES!!" --please

If the river was frozen and I was a diving duck,
I'd dive to the bottom but I never could come up,

chorus)
Tell me how long, can I hold my breath?
Before my air goes--and I see what's after death!

(Art---in a dumb mood again I guess ;-)