July 18, 2013: Ricky Skaggs, Hunter S. Thompson and Red Skelton. Classic Americans.

Today is National Caviar Day. Eat some fish eggs, some roe, on a cracker. I’ll not. I’ll go watch Finding Nemo: The Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in memory of the caviar that didn’t get eaten.

1913: Red Skelton was born in Vincennes, Indiana. Skelton was an awesome funny man. I remember his Clem Kadiddlehopper and Freddie the Freeloader among a group of goofy characters. In 1976 he appeared in a TV special Monsanto Night Presents Walt Disney’s America on Parade. In honor of Red, go to Main Street, U.S.A. and enjoy the parade.

1921: John Glenn is born in Cambridge, Ohio. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space, later he became a Senator from his home state of Ohio and at age 77 became the oldest person in space when he flew aboard Discovery. In 1977 he took part in a ceremony for Disneyland’s Space Mountain so let’s ride Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain in his honor.

1939: Hunter S. Thompson was born in Louisville, Kentucky. General man among men, gonzo journalist and curious and suspicious mind, there was not figuring what he might be doing at any moment, why or what state of mind he was in. I met him once, at a special event at the University of Kentucky in the early 1980’s. I still have the ticket and the memories. Some things just don’t fade away. In honor of his altered state, let’s ride with Figment at the Imagination pavilion at EPCOT.

I have been to Cordell, Kentucky many times and sang at the Cordell Free Will Baptist Church. On this date in 1954, Ricky Skaggs was born at Cordell. I have only met Ricky once, at an ill-fated Ricky Skaggs homecoming event, here in Louisa, in his home county of Lawrence County. I did graduate high school with his brother, Gary, who, like so many others came to Louisa for high school after attending Blaine school through 8^th grade. Ricky is a great singer and my friend, Gary Clay, was a loyal fan, particularly of his bluegrass music when the rest of us weren’t real interested. Ricky is a traditional music kind of guy so let’s go to the American Adventure at EPCOT and enjoy the Voices of Liberty.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.