OhmyGOD!!! I cannot believe how beautiful, green, pastoral, and wonderful the Ozarks are! Each time I see them, they are better. We won't talk about how scary the development in Branson is, now ......... but everything else is just fantastic! Last night we went to see the drama, Shepherd of the Hills. It continues to inspire, leave a lump in my throat, and give those warm feelings in my heart, etc. It is told in the time of my Mom's grandparents. She, my brother, and I all came away from it feeling much closer to our roots. The staff and actors at the park are all wonderful. One cannot help but feel at home, or 'Back Home' when there. Even Scrooge and the Grinch would'a succumbed. Rick Swan is a great guy; you get to meet him as 'Stinky,' his stage name, & he and the rest of the folks there make sure you have a good time! Then there is Vonda .............. What can I say??? For those of you who have not had the chance to meet her in person, you need to! She is as beautiful, funny, and all that you think of her from just knowing her on the list. She'd make a great Sammy Lane, in 'Shepherd,' without even having to act much. Maybe she'll tell us, in her own words, what the three things are about being a woman of the Ozarks is, like Sammy does in the story. We drove from Joplin, through Granby, Monett, and Galena to get to Reeds Spring, where we are staying. Tomorrow we plan to head for Forsyth, Dickens and Taneyville; where my Reece, Austin, and some of our Roberts folks were from. Thursday we will head for Ozark, Sparta, Chadwick and Garrison. The beauty of this area is so much more to we desert dwellers. I miss the trees and other greenery so much that it sure is going to be hard to leave at the end of the week. Well; to all of you Ozark natives and Rooters out there, come here as soon as you can! It is indeed 'Food for the Soul.' Jerry Johnston