This is a photo from last weekend when Craig Stock and I flew in his plane to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, to visit my daughter Sally. To say I was scared is an understatement. Craig is a masterful pilot and the plane was in excellent condition. It was physics that I was a little worried about. How could this little plane stay up in the air? Once I got over my initial fear of heights, we had a marvelous time. I enjoyed the views, the sensation of flying, the beauty of the Pennsylvania countryside and our conversation. And we had a great time at Kenyon, visiting Sally. We ate and drank, and saw attended her choir concert. Craig even bought a Kenyon windbreaker, so I know he had fun. More pictures should follow.

Here are the brave pilot and copilot, in the cockpit. It was beautiful to fly over the mountains and the farms. The world takes on a completely different view from an altitude of 3,500 and 5,500 feet. Craig loves the freedom he feels in his small plane, though I kept thinking of the beautiful bike riding that I could do on those endless miles of roads through the Pennsylvania farmland. Once we got to Kenyon, we had fun walking the campus, smoking cigars, and helping Sally change a tire on her car. My narrative was that I flew out to Kenyon to change Sally’s tire. Actually, Craig changed it. Thanks again, Craig. Here are some pictures of Sally at Kenyon….

 Sally and friend John

 Sally and Julie above. And below, Sally and Kate. I need you all to know that my darling daughter Sally, who spent four years in the library, took me to T.D.’s apartment to play beer pong. We competed against the reigning table champions, two guys. I want you to know that Sally was pathetic. But I sank four of five balls in my first several shots, before losing 6-5. It was really my debut at beer pong, and I guess I am a natural. Beware college boys, beware. Sally has a great group of friends who have loved their time at Kenyon, and even I was misty-eyed as we left, thinking that my next and last time to Gambier will be in May for graduation.  

We went to visit my brother at his new place in Spring Island, S.C. What a beautiful place, and we had so much fun.

Larry, Celeste and Boo at the driving range.

 Gators in the water. Scared me plenty, but I guess the golfers there are accustomed to gators.

 Larry, Carla, Natalie and Celeste:

Had a great day yesterday First half, I spoke to a gathering of 100 college admissions and marketing officials at a TargetX conference in Philadaelphia. The theme of my talk was “Storytelling is our salvation,” and the idea was to help them recognize the value of storytelling and improve their storytelling on campus, as a way to recruit and attract students. I told how I do my craft, and shared with them many of my favorite stories. I also spent plenty of time sharing the stories of and from my book, Rocky Stories: Tales of Love, Hope and Happiness at America’s Most Famous Steps. This email came from Brian Niles, CEO: “The talk around the event in the afternoon was how great your keynote was.  Really!  It was perfect and I really appreciate you taking the time to be with us and share your thoughts, ideas and experiences.  It was a perfect fit into the rest of our program and what these folks want to hear.”

From there Maureen and I drove to the beautiful Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, Pa., to hear our daughter Sally sing on tour with the Kenyon College Chamber Singers, under the direction of Benjamin Locke. This is our last time hearing Sally sing with the Kenyon choir, since she’s graduating. But the program was amazing, from Bach to South African folk songs to old Negro spirituals. Prof. Locke had these students performing at an incredible level. It was also great to see Sally. And when we got home, little Boo, who couldn’t go with us because he had the intramural basketball championship game, had brought home the trophy! the top student team had beaten the teachers! yeah, Boo. Although Sally missed you.

Ok. Clinton or Obama? Obama or Clinton? All eyes are on Pennsylvania, which it seems has a pivotal role in choosing the Democratic nominee for president. The two candidates will be spending the better part of the next seven weeks in Pennsylvania, trying to convince voters in the Keystone State who would make the best nominee.

Here’s what I think: Whoever runs up the Rocky Steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art will win the nomination. That candidate will show that he or she understands the hearts and souls of Philadelphians, and has the tenacity “to go the distance!”

In 2004, John Kerry came to Philadelphia on his way to Boston, to accept the Democratic nomination.  He held a huge rally in the plaza at the top of the Rocky Steps.  These are the steps, of course, that Sylvester Stallone made famous by running up them and dancing at the top in the Academy Award winning classic film, Rocky.

John Kerry did not run up the steps that day. He did at least refer to Rocky, saying, “I may not have run up the steps, but I am going to deliver the knockout punch.” Tragic. 

As I said in my book, Rocky Stories: Tales of Love, Hope and Happiness at America’s Most Famous Steps,  ”a candidate with real heart _ who felt the Rocky passion, who was willing to go the distance _ would have run the Rocky Steps.”

 I reiterate that point now. The candidate who understands the power of the Rocky story, and who runs the Rocky Steps _ that candidate will win the nomination. Stay tuned! 

NPR did a story on weekend edition following my story in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Dick Hughes and Bill McLaughlin and their travels together to 203 museums. So many people have been trying to order a copy of the little booklet, and have been contacting me. So here is the easy way. Send a check for $6 (which covers postage!) to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 East Chestnut Hill Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa, 19118. Tell them you want a copy of Travels with Dick and Bill.

Had a great talk with members of Haddonfield’s 65 club yesterday. Told them all about what I do, the stories I’ve written, my book, Rocky Stories, and the fate of journalism. They had some great questions. I’m also speaking to Dan Rubin’s class at Penn on Monday and will talk about storytelling at a TARGETX conference on Thursday.

Check out my story on Hedy Tower, a 94-year-old dance teacher, in this coming Sunday’s Inquirer.

Loved David Brooks’ tribute to William Buckley in the NY Times today. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/opinion/29brooks.html?hp. A wonderful opening anecdote. I thought that kind of thing only happens in a Frank Capra world.

Sally will be singing with her Kenyon choir near Washington’s Crossing on Thursday, March 6, and we are excited to see her. Little Boo won a two-mile at the NY Armory the other night in 9:34. (His old man never broke 10:00.) And Thanks Rick Nichols for giving us that amazing chocolate milk you found in your wanderings to some Pennsylvania Dairy. Made me feel like a kid again!

Here is a link to my latest Inquirer story, about the fever sweeping through American retirement communities — Nintendo Wii bowling! http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/15917527.html

Got lots of incredible response from readers. Today I’m off to visit a 94 year old dance instructor — she turns 95 in two weeks — who has had the same students in some cases for nearly 50 years! She believes its not the dancing that is responsible for her longevity, and for her faithful students, but her creativity and emphasis on freedom of spirit. I look forward to meeting her. 

Other news: I will give a talk on the importance of storytelling to a group of college marketing and admissions officers who will be coming to Philadelphia March 6. The event is being sponsored by TargetX, a leader in helping colleges recruit a new and more challenging generation of students, which is hosting its first users group meeting, entitled Xpert Summit 2008. I will give a keynote emphasizing the importance of storytelling as a way to reach people, and I will share many of the stories in my book, Rocky Stories: Tales of Love, Hope and Happiness at America’s Most Famous Steps. 

Not much else to report. Trying to teach our dog, Rocky, to come. Boo runs a two-mile race at the New York Armory in New York City tonight. I won $52 at poker Sunday evening in our monthly poker game — maybe my best night ever! Oh, yes, Jordan Burnham, whom I wrote about in January http://www.philly.com/inquirer/gallery/13908626.html (or see blog entry below) is up and walking now, with the help of a walker, and covered nearly 100 feet the other day at Bryn Mawr Rehab. There is also a good possibility my story on him will be reprinted soon in Reader’s Digest, for millions more people to see. That is very exciting. 

Got many wonderful responses from readers today to my story in the Philadelphia Inquirer: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20080219_Guiding_each_other_and_others.html, This is a story about Bill McLaughlin, 86, and Dick Hughes, 85, who visited every museum they could find in the Philadelphia area — 203 and counting — as a way to help Bill deal with the grief after losing his wife.

And speaking of wives, my wife and I just celebrated our 24th anniversary yesterday. We didn’t do much, because we went to Italy AND China last year for work and play. Next year, for the big 25th, with two college tuitions paid, we may go somewhere great. I’ve got some ideas….

We visited Tim’s’ new place in Manayunk the other day — it’s a VAST improvement over the college apartment, and he seems launched in life and on his way. I also hope to fly out to Kenyon College in April to visit Sally in her last semester there. The great thing about this visit is I plan to fly there with Craig Stock in his little plane. That will be exciting. If Craig is Half as good a pilot as he is a poker player, we will have a smooth ride from start to finish.

And what else, our little Boo will be running the 3200 in the indoor meet of champions this Saturday in what promises to be a very exciting race.

Check out my most recent story in the Philadelphia Inquirer, on Sunday Jan. 20. the story is long but one of my best ever,  narrative about a high school senior suffering from depression who went out his ninth floor window _ and lived! This is his story. He and his family really opened up their lives to me. I worked on it for over two months. Here’s the link: