Well, haven't gotten a call from THEM in a while...

An interesting footnote to piano bar late last night: I'm standing in front of the bar talking to someone, when my cell phone rings. I'm puzzled, as I answer the phone- the area code is that of my father's home town. It's the police department.

Pause briefly, as several possible reasons for their calling me at three in the morning flash through my mind, none of them good.

Turns out my cell phone's speed dial function had somehow been activated, as it sat in my pocket, thereby treating my befuddled father to several minutes of piano music and other bar noises. Too groggy to recognize his son's cell phone number, he called the police- but, happily, fell short of filing charges. Much laughter- mixed with relief- as I call him this afternoon, and straighten things out (but no comment as to whether or not he liked the music, alas).

a passing thought, a rainbow connection

I still think of you and your work, Jim. Children's television hasn't been the same in the thirteen years since you left us- but then, that's true of many things. You made fantasy films that were made from an impetus other than that of simply moving toys on a shelf, and television shows that taught with humor and humanity. We didn't have you nearly long enough.