The friends you meet along the highway.

Throughout this whole process, I have been utterly amazed at the people I've met along the way. If I look at my life as a grand painting, with each person in my life signified by this brush stroke, or that smear of color, than my life canvas is pretty darned vibrant and interesting. 

Take these two gentlemen.  The guy holding my DVD is Mark. He is the owner of Bear Books in little Isanti, Minnesota. (Never had ever been to Isanti until last weekend.) Mark is a guy who doesn't appreciate cell phones or e-mail. Doesn't have a website for his store. It is full to the brim with great regionally produced books. It was an old saloon,  so there is a vintage wooden bar that serves as the business' countertop. At any rate, Mark asked me to sign some books for him if I had time. I'm glad I stopped. What an interesting guy!  

This is Walter. Walter painted this mural of an old street scene in Isanti. 

Walter not only paints, he is a stained glass artist and is wonderfully talented. Walter and Mark are both DELIGHTFUL people. 

Walter, Mark and people like Joanne Hart (see the book for details on the joyful meeting at the original Highway 61 border crossing that I had with Joanne) have all left indelible marks on me and I'm a better person because of them. 

The DVD just came out and is being distributed across the country. Last week, I entered the documentary for Emmy Awards, and will also enter the documentary in several film festivals. I'm also scheduled to be at several civic events up and down the highway this summer so it promises to be busy. That is a good thing. I guess the trip isn't over with yet!