[Keith Norrington]

A whistle salute and calliope serenade of HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Franz, our generous webmaster and good friend. We don't say this often enough, but THANK YOU for all you do to generously provide this wonderful forum for those of us who love steamboating and the river!

Hope you've had a great day in every way. Sorry I'm a bit late with my greeting, but I've been without power for the past 24 hours after a "typhoon" blew through the Louisville area last evening leaving many in darkness on both sides of the Ohio. We were having a wedding with 300 guests on the lawn of the Howard Steamboat Museum and it was just about to begin when the storm came raging out of the west. There were some scary moments as the big trees twisted, limbs blew down and heavy rain poured. Nearly all of the tables, chairs, decorations, dishes and many other items literally took flight and headed toward the river. Most of the guests, thoroughly soaked and looking very somber, crowded into the mansion, where we handed out towels and whatever else was needed. To lighten the moment, Yvonne put on a calliope CD! The groom's grandfather selected a copy of Tales of the Mississippi from the gift shop, found a chair and entertained himself for the next half hour until the storm subsided, the harpist played and the ceremony took place! It was a wedding that could have had a "Gone with the Wind" theme! Thankfully, no one was injured, the sun came out again as the vows were said on a delayed schedule, the reception (what was left of it) went on and a good time was had by all. The wedding bells for the newly married couple was provided by the roof bell from the steam towboat DUFFY.

Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANZ!