Dear Friends,

It has been some time since my last newsletter.  This winter has been quite rotten for me with two bouts of pneumonia:  one in early December and a second one in early February.  The doctors finally figured out that it was caused by bacteria collecting around a very large stone in my bladder.  This infection then gets into my bloodstream and travels to my lungs.  I was all set to have the stone removed when Covid-19 erupted!  Anyway, I’ve been home for three weeks now and feeling stronger every day thanks to the loving care of my wife, Linda.

My last haircut was 10 weeks ago, so you can image what I look like now.  Today, with the proper equipment, Linda is going to tackle cutting my hair.  Keep in mind that she hasn’t cut hair since her son was a toddler and he just turned 32, so I won’t be looking in a mirror when she’s finished to see the final result.  I will keep telling myself that it WILL grow back.

Like most of you, we’ve been housebound, but we did get to spend the day with our granddaughter Maggie recently.  She’s almost 2 now and great fun to watch play and talk.  Like always, Linda has a smile on her face the entire time.  Maggie is such a giving little girl; always including me in all the games she plays with Linda.  We play tea party, coasters, catch and baby dolls!

Since I first started performing at the Highland Games in the early 1980’s, I have been fortunate to have many lovely and loving people who have supported me at my sales table and for this, I am very grateful. My travels took me from San Diego, California to Loon Mountain, New Hampshire and from Enunclaw (Seattle),Washington to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Here is a list of people who have helped me sell my product over the years:

Beverly Tackett and Cindy Gaylord were the first two ladies to man my table at the Costa Mesa Highland Games in Orange County, California.

Helen and Bill Eisenhower covered most of the US selling my wares for many years.

Diana and Gary Phelps have been selling my CD’s for a number of years now and Diana does wonders in moving my product.

Jil Chamblis is a performing artist and part of a duo with Scooter Muse. She sells my CDs at several Highland Games in North Carolina and Texas where she and Scooter perform.

Robin MacAngus is an enthusiastic salesperson at the large Highland Games in Pleasanton, California held over Labor Day Weekend.

Carolyn Keller and Faye Bell sold my CD’s at various games, most notably the Virginia Highland Games. Faye used to bake a delicious pumpkin bread that she mailed to me back when I was able to eat solid foods.

Beth McPherson Arnold has sold my CD’s for many years from New Hampshire to North Carolina and Georgia.

Catie Crain has helped her aunt Beth Arnold at several Highland Games.

Bob and Mary Whitman are a lovely couple who help out at Estes Park Scottish/Irish Festival in Colorado.

Jeanie Stewart helped in Arkansas and Texas. I loved sharing a single malt whisky with Jeanie; God rest her soul.

Gayle Robertson covered my sales in Detroit, Michigan and McPherson, Kansas.

Linda Beaton worked my sales tables at many events and even manned the table all by herself at Estes Park, Colorado over a three-day period with people at the table all day long regardless of whether or not I was on stage.  This Festival was my largest selling Event.

Though Merv Forney didn’t sell at my sales table, he designed and has kept my website going since my accident almost 9 years ago and I can’t thank him enough for his help.

Hope you are all well, keeping safe doing this trying and uncertain time and enduring any hardships.  We are all in this together.

Much love,

Alex