Okay, here’s the deal. I got back to the hotel at 3:00 am – long story and it involves Constable Ruben Davis, a medical doctor, three policeman, a bus, and a large woman with a pail of attitude, so you can bet your sweet patootie that I’ll be telling it – and it’s now 9:00 am, which means this is the most sleep I’ve had in four days.

But, Honey, you could not wipe the grin off my face with a stick of dynamite.

Bubba and I are taking the long way home through our beautiful, beloved South, eating our way back to Texas and breathing the crisp air of the Smoky Mountains. I have a thousand stories to tell you and you know I will.

Big, special, adoring hugs to Texas hero Glen Maxey for running the damn near perfect delegation organization and never once telling me to go slap myself, even when I thoroughly earned it.

Meanwhile, I have bags to pack, breakfast to eat, and 1,300 miles to home – all with a big ole grin on my face. So, I want you, my friends, to chatter amongst yourselves, enjoy any of our visiting postings and I’ll see you tonight in Tennessee.