Dear Friends,

Well, it’s been some time since my last newsletter was sent back in January. My intention was to get a newsletter out by the end of April; however, as an expert in procrastination, the issue of “On the Beaton Path” is 3 months late. As many of you know, I am a crazy football (soccer) fan and was glued for a month between the middle of June till the final on July 15^th watching the World Cup.  Right after that I had to watch “The 147^th Open Golf Championship” from Carnoustie, Scotland. It brought back fond memories of playing that course.

There have been a couple of health issues affecting me since January. The volume of my voice has become so weak that now I have a microphone headset with an amplifier/speaker which enables me to communicate with the people around me. Secondly, I am unable to swallow, and I am a high risk to aspirate, so all of my food, water and medicines are given to me through a tube inserted in my stomach. Over the next few months, I am doing exercises to pass the swallow test scheduled in September which will enable me to taste food again. The thought of not being able to enjoy a good haggis breaks my heart! Other than that, I’m doing well.

On the 17^th of July, Linda and I became grandparents for the first time when her son John’s wife, Stephanie, gave birth to a baby girl named Maggie James Polston. What a beautiful baby. Maggie weighed in at 7 pounds, three ounces and is 20 inches long. As a gift I gave my children’s CD “Kidding Around” to Maggie which should provide her great pleasure for many years to come. You, too, can make a young child happy by giving them this wonderful CD.  As always, I am TOTALLY shameless!

As mentioned in my previous newsletter, Linda’s younger brother, Guy Irvin, is in stage 4 kidney failure and his kidney function is now at 16% so it’s a real race against time to secure a suitable kidney for transplant.  Her family has been tested, but they don’t have a good match so far, so I’m asking for help in spreading the word.  If you do know of anyone potentially interested in becoming a living kidney donor (there are thousands of people out there in a similar situation to Guy), please reach out to Kidney.org to see about helping.  If anyone is specifically interested in helping Guy, they can call either Piedmont Transplant Center in Atlanta or Barnes Jewish Center (BJC) in St. Louis.  The contact information for both can be found below:

Piedmont Transplant Center
Telephone:  404-605-2950

Barnes Hospital Transplant Center
Telephone:  314-362-5365, x4

This past Friday Linda, Jeff Paul (a friend) and I attended Ashley’s graduation from college.  As you may remember, she worked for me for 3 years as my caregiver and lived with Linda and I for the last 2 years she was in nursing school.  It was with mixed emotions that I watched her walk across the stage:  I am so proud of the beautiful young woman she is and what she’s achieved in getting her nursing degree, nursing license and securing a full-time job, but at the same time, both Linda and I miss her terribly…she became a member of our family and it was like watching your child leave the nest.

I would like to thank my dear friends who sell my CDs at numerous Highland Games.  On Labor Day weekend I will have a table by the Glenfinnan Stage at Pleasanton, California. The following weekend, my table will be at my good friend, Seamus Kennedy’s, tent in Estes Park, Colorado.  On the second weekend of October, you will find my table at the Alex Beaton Stage in Ventura, California.

I was running out of stock for a number of my CD’s. Because of requests for these selections, I have ordered and received a small amount of product. Now, most of my CD’s are available on the store page on my website: www.alexbeaton.com.  You should think about birthday and Christmas gifts along with enhancing your own library. Again, I’m shamelessly hawking my wares.

In closing, there will be no comment on when the next edition of “On the Beaton Path” will be available. Like myself, don’t give up hope.

Thank you for your love and support; I can’t believe that it has been 7 years since my accident.  It’s been a great comfort to know that I am not forgotten as I haven’t forgotten you either nor the pleasure it gave me for all those years to travel throughout the country performing live for my fans and friends.

Love,

Alex