Friends on the Forum, For two weeks Randy Maple has struggled with packing away his household so he and his wife can move to Germany for two years, he has traveled from California to Oregon to spend time with his son, and is grappling with finishing his book on Twain. In amongst all that he attempted to make a posting on the Forum but just couldn't make it happen. So, this morning, he emailed me his posting and ask if I would post it for him. So, here is a whirlwind report about people and places from Randy's perspective. Thanks Randy. Jane McCone Director Center for Mark Twain Studies "We just returned from a week wandering from one Mark Twain haunt to another where we exhausted ourselves in the "flapping of the gladsome jaw" and the "wagging of the sympathtic ear." Beginning in Hannibal, our dinner with Henry and Nancy Sweets set the tenor and tone for the "Territory ahead." Henry's gracious committment to familiarize, educate, and serve as tour guide extrodinaire prepared us for the seizing of the day; accepting us as members of a very special band of pirates. Since the last visit to Hannibal in 1971, Reb was delighted to find the charm of Twain's boyhood home still intact under Henry's tuteledge, while I, as first time visitor, couldn't imagine it otheriwse. Henry shared the exciting short and long term projects and goals designed for the continuation of Twain's legacy. The interpretive center provided a lens in which, like Tom Sawyer, we vicariously peered into the hollow as Injun Joe buried the treasure. Our imagaination was further stirred steering the wheel of a paddlewheeler while overlooking the mighty Mississippi. Under perfect azure Missouri skies Henry later toured us around to the gravesites of the Clemens family. The next morning, before heading to Florida, Mo., was spent circling around inside Sawyer's cave, afterward returning to express appreciation to Henry for his first class assistance in our exploration. We departed resting in the comfort that Hannibal and Twain's relationship is being secured by the capable and steady hands of Henry. John Huffman made us perfectly at home inside of Twain's home of birth in Florida and viewing the original manuscript of "Tom Sawyer" was pure magic. Florida deserves so much more attention as John oversees one of the real secret treats. He drove us to the plots where Twain's family is buried and then to the solitary headstone where Sammy's grandfather rests under an old oak. Then it was on to a gorgeous day in Hartford under the guidance of Natalie. That night we arrived at Quarry Farm at 11:00 p. m. welcomed by the friendly face of Jane McCone. After two days of enchantment in and around Elmira, Jane, Reb, and I ventured to Buffalo where Irene Liguori arranged for us to see inside of those places where Twain lived and worked. Even though the buildings are long gone, we saw photos and walked inside the still standing stables now turned into offices. Then at the Buffalo & Eire County Library Peggy Skotnicki and Elaine Barone served up one treat after another as we gazed at the first handwritten page of "Huckleberry Finn" as well as the pages never before in print where Jim tells Huck about his experience with ghosts. They further surprised us bringing additional treasures from the archives. Irene transported us to the new digs that will soon showcase Twain's life in Buffalo, a sure can't miss experience for anyone wanting to know more about these brief but important years in Twain's developement. Ireane's enthusiam is contagious and, like eveyone else we met, is an asset we should all cherish and support. All this is to say that to visit all these places in seven days is to inhale Twain beyond anything we could have imagained. Reb and I came away with visions and dreams, and isn't this exactly as it should be! Thank you to all. Randy Maple and Reb Silay [log in to unmask]