Yesterday Linda and I left the house around 7 AM and drove about 6 hours to near Gary Texas to visit with J.A. (jstall) and Judy Stallone. It was a long ride but well worth it. J.A. had told me he lived way out in the country, I just didn't realize how far. If it would have been any further out in the country we would have had to put on hiking boots. I could almost hear the banjo's playing, haha. J.A. welcome us into his home where I also met his brother in law, a fine fellow in his own right, and we sat and chatted for a while. J.A. and I then went out and look at fig trees and tasted a couple of figs while Linda and J.A.'s brother in law stayed in to enjoy the AC. One in particular that got my attention was his Aldo or Palermo Red. That is one great tasting fig. It was sweet, but not overly sweet, and nice and figgy. J.A. will help me get one for my collection. I hope the good Lord grants me many more years to enjoy them and others. J.A. and I swapped a couple of trees. His wife Judy came home from work and we visited a while, not long enough, before we had to leave to be in Bossier City for a anniversary dinner for our daughter and son in law. I know I will make a lot more time available next time we head north to visit. My only regret is I forgot to take any pictures with our friends.

J.A., Linda and I want to thank you and Judy for the hospitality and friendship you shared with us. We are looking forward to the next visit already. I know we will not be able to visit enough with these fine people.
"gene"

fig people are great

Hi Gene.  Here's to many, many more happy and healthy years.

Happy gardening, and I hope you are having a great summer.

Best wishes.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Yes Gene many more seasons!

I assure you and Linda, that the pleasure was all ours. It was great having you visit with us. I can not say enough about someone that comes that far out of their way to meet you, "makes them special people."

Now that we have your attention, we will plan better on the next trip and make sure we get you to "come to the table" and enjoy some home cooking.  Of course, we have to work harder to even try to compete with folks from South Louisiana and their cooking!!  And remember, we have an extra guest room.....figgin' is wonderful with that first cup of coffee in the early morning!  We'd love to have you stay over a night so we could really get some conversation going.

You are right Gene, fig people are great.
 J.A & Judy 

tmc, that was a short trip earlier we went almost 1900 miles all the way to CA to visit with Jon, Sue, and Richard Watts. Great people also. I wish we had time and money to visit everyone all around the country. When I retire we will try to at least get to see some of y'all.
"gene"

I'm a little late, OK, a lot late in posting this but feel I must. I was real busy at the time and I guess I forgot to acknowledge a couple of well wishes. I found this post while looking for something and realized that I hadn't thanked Martin and John for the wishes of many more seasons.

Since then I had a complete physical, including blood work, stress test and colonoscopy and all is fine. I'm scheduled to live to 100. So I hope to meet a whole bunch of y'all.
"gene"