Indeed the port city of Duluth is experiencing gale force winds, rain and fog, not unlike the weather that sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. It was sung about by Gordon Lightfoot who just recently performed in Duluth and will be commemorated at Split Rock Lighthouse in a special two day event November 10 and 11. The lighthouse will be open from noon to 6pm with a dramatic tolling of the bells to remember the crew members who perished and the once a year lighting of the beacon. The Minnesota Historical Society website (www.mnhs.org) has more info.

Surprisingly, fall leaf colors and beautiful roses at the Leif Erickson Park Rose Gardens are still with us as we have not experienced a killing frost yet. One thing we know about the weather in Duluth is that it can change very quickly. We'll have more nice fall days yet!

Indoor activities and events abound and coming up on the music scene is the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra concert featuring soprano Christine Goerke. The date and time is October 27th at 8:00pm. I missed out on playing for Big Bad VooDoo Daddy last weekend as I was out of town taking Jonathan on college visits and helping my parents sort and pack up 50+ years of accumulated stuff in preparation for their upcoming move to Duluth. Oh my! Definitely a lesson to be learned here. Meanwhile, our son had a great time staying on the college campuses, eating the gourmet food and staying up til all hours. Of course, he's been up til all hours since he got home trying to catch up on school work so he can get into those wonderful colleges!

That's all for now from the good life in Duluth.

Joan and Jim