Well, well. Sleepless in South Abilene. I have deduced that my brain rests more quickly than my body. Today is going to be a long long day. I am going back in to do some more office packing and then I have to be at St. Lawrence tonight at 7:30 for the Co-op Family Fun Day and barbecue. Of course it is being held at The Hall (see Padre Tom post 6/17). This is one of those PR events and as a "naturalized native" (as many of them refer to me), it is expected. This is usually an informative trip, I get caught up on the crop potential and all of the happenings since I was last out there. I will see the majority of my friends and most of the Co-op's register of employees. Last week was the Co-ops annual meeting and it is always interesting to see if their Board of Directors has any changes. They have a young board that is very aggressive and hands on in the co-op's operations. This year will be different in several respects. The Co-op has some vacancies and some new personnel in key positions. My good friend Milton is gone. He was the Plant Superintendent or Assistant Manager. He accepted the Managers position at New Home. That puts him seventeen miles from his old stomping grounds and that same seventeen miles distance from his kids and grand kids! Congratulations Milton! Mitch is gone from the Farm Store. Mitch had been there eighteen years and resigned effective the end of January. Of the three of us I was the new comer to the group having only logged ten years in my affiliation! So this year is going to be one of making new acquaintances and establishing new routines and working relationships. If they can keep Frank, Juan, Barco and the other small group of internal shakers and movers it will not have a big effect on me or my performance. The latter group is what I would term as mechanical while the previous group is more on the political side. It will also be good to see the office staff. I suppose I will put a full day in packing at Roscoe and then I will drive out there in time to visit some before the event begins. I will indulge in my Diet Coke and they always have good barbecue. If I am lucky, about nine or nine-thirty most of the natives will probably be "unwound" enough that I can slip away unnoticed, then I will do the three hours back to Abilene. I wish one of my trailers were there and I would stay the night and have coffee Friday morning with B.J., the General Manager. In ten years I have found this time is usually the best time to talk and listen. It is always interesting to see what changes they have made and what has happened in their community. A long day is awaiting me.

FATHER, prepare me for this day! I ask for safe passage, I ask for YOUR company on this day. Give me the strength, the energy, the endurance to do all I need to do today. May the crops look good, the news be better and may all of my friends hearts be filled with joy and optimism. Bless my day with YOUR presence, YOUR wisdom, YOUR guidance and YOUR watch and care.