"Tales from the Open Road"

We hope to see you somewhere on the road this show season!

Schedule:

May/June: no shows! Catch up with paper work at home in Tucson!
July: Born Free Caravan July 19th - Aug. 22nd -

While Jodie was in Hilton NY tending to family affairs I was in Glendora CA doing two travel film shows at Citrus College for Greg Hinrichsen. I flew in from Tucson for the show. Greg picked me up from the airport, drove me to the show, took me out for dinner, and dropped me off at the airport hotel for my flight back the next morning. Is he a great sponsor or what! We also like him because he tells great jokes on stage before the show!

Back in Tucson I had a bunch of health tests done and found out there is nothing wrong with me, what a shock! My only question is, why do I feel so bad? I guess it's that "old age" thing. I was having trouble sleeping, but then I found out just about everyone I know has trouble sleeping! I'm also short of breath. I found out that was because of a collapsed lung I had during an operation back in 1982. It really didn't start bothering me until now, you know, that "old age" thing again. The doc says I have to work out 5 times a week to keep my lungs strong. She also said that I should lose 20 lbs! I laughed at that one, I just lost 35 lbs! She wants me to get down to 210 lb. I explained to her that was my "birth weight".

When she got home from NY Jodie threw an "end of season" BBQ at our house. Almost all of our snow-bird friends in the RV resort are heading north for the summer. What a bunch of wimps! I guess they don't like 150-degree summer heat. It's 180-degrees with the wind chill!

On the 6th Jodie flew to the southeast for a series of shows and to visit her foster-daughter in AL. She did shows in Fairfield Glade TN, Huntsville AL, and Burlington NC. The best part for her was spending time with Tonya, her husband Tony and their four kids. Now that will keep you busy!

While Jodie was on the road I got to stay in Tucson, do desk work, and watch the Detroit Red Wings in the hockey play-offs. Hockey is the only sport I still watch. It's fast paced and exciting. Try switching from a hockey game to a baseball game on TV sometime. It looks like the baseball guys are taking a nap!

Jodie returned home to Tucson on April 15th. Together at last, for one whole day! We did make the best of that day. We had lunch at Elliott and Leslie Smith's house in the resort and celebrated dinner out with friends Penny and birthday girl Sheryl. We squeezed in as much quality time as we could.

April 17th Jodie flew back to Hilton NY for her father's service while I flew off to Toronto to do travel show presentations. I actually flew into my old hometown of Detroit, rented a car and drove 250mi to Toronto to save about $400.00 in direct airfare.

The next morning I got up and drove 200mi north to the little town of North Bay Ontario for an afternoon show. After the show I drove back to Toronto and stayed with our friends the Strathy's. We met in Switzerland back in 1986. I took photos at David and Rita's wedding and watched their son Gerard grow up into a great 16-year old. Gerard, his father David, and HIS father John and I all met in Alaska last summer to do some fishing and filming. They are all featured in the new Alaska DVD.

Everyday I would leave the Strathy house at about 4:00pm and be stuck in traffic for several hours getting to my shows in near-by Dundas, Oakville, and Missisuga. I'm convinced the traffic in Toronto is worse than LA now! It would take me over 2 hours to drive less than 35 miles.

On the morning of the 25th I left the Toronto traffic jams in my rear-view mirror and headed to Detroit. I would miss the Strathy's but not all the bad drivers. In Detroit I met high school friend Frank Bury We went out to the old ball game at Comerica Park. The Detroit Tigers lost to the California Angles but we had a great time eating and drinking overpriced stadium fare.

Finally, on April 26th Jodie and I were home together again for a while. It's been a tough few months for everyone, especially Jodie and her mom.

JODIE'S TRIBUTE TO HER FATHER

It goes without saying that these have been some of the most difficult months of my life, yet in many ways I see the blessings in the way that things happened so perfectly. I hadn't been home in over a year, so last December I took a week and flew to Mom and Dad’s for a visit. It was a good visit and we had some great family times together... I got to meet my new grand niece and spend time with my brother and his family as well, and lots of time with mom and dad... who knew that less than a month later dad would suffer a serious stroke?

After his stroke on January 2nd I waited to hear what we were facing as John and I began our busy RV show season. Mom called one day and asked if I could come home because she was going to have to take over doing the finances and that was something dad had always done. I flew home and spent a few days with mom and helped get her understanding the books. We also spent lots of time with dad in rehab! It was hard to see him struggle to walk and do some of the most basic things, but at the same time I was encouraged by his determination, strength and sense of humor. We shared many laughs and tears that week.

Dad got home from the rehab center and I got to be home for another week shortly after his return... it was a good week of great conversations and sharing with dad... I actually snuck into his room a couple of time with a snack or two and we just talked about nothing... that weekend we also got him to church on Palm Sunday for the first time since the 1st of the year when he had his stroke. Who knew that his first trip back to church would actually be his last??? His church family gave him an incredibly warm welcome, they embraced him, supported him and showed him how much he had been missed! I came home from that incredible week and less than 36 hours dad was back in the hospital with more stroke activity, one week later he was gone.

Dad always had a sense of humor, when we were little he kidded around with our friends all the time. If we had a friend for dinner he would call them by every name but their own. He would tell stories and jokes and make us laugh. He always helped us with our math homework and never understood how we didn't always understand because math was easy for him. When I worked at Kodak I often rode to work with dad. It was fun to really have something in common with him. Kodak was his life for so many years (30+) so we had fun working and kibitzing about his engineers versus the mechanical engineers. And I was someone because I was Gary Blair’s daughter. I was so proud of him and I think that went both ways.

I always knew that my dad loved me and was proud of me and would do ANYTHING for me!! He has always been a constant in my life and I am going to miss that security. But I will always be thankful to God for giving us the past few months and the opportunities we had spending time talking, laughing, crying. It was as if God blessed us all with time to say goodbye without us even being aware of it.

Dad, I have been blessed by you, I love you and I'll see you again!!

See ya on the road,
John & Jodie

©2008 John Holod Productions

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