... messages here and the private emails. Once again, my chip collecting friends have proved to be a source of invaluable support and comfort. I can't begin to express how much this has meant to me over the past nine months and again now.

My father-in-law (Joe Douglas) rallied a little in the last 24 hours and I am going to hold off travelling to Memphis for a day or two. My sister-in-law Penny told me today that she felt she would really need me most next week and apologized for interfering with the convention. She also asked me to add her thanks for the prayers and kind thoughts everyone extended to her.

It has been difficult seeing the physical deterioration in my father-in-law. When I met him in 1967, he was 6'5" tall, about 225 pounds and strong as a bull. He's now down to just over 150 pounds and can't even get out of bed. Yet, despite his size and strength, he has always been kind and gentle. As a young man, he was also one of those who made his generation what Tom Brokaw called the greatest ever. He proved himself an unassuming hero, going ashore in the first wave at Omaha Beach and fighting all the way to Berlin, then rarely ever talking about his experience after returning to the U.S. and resuming his normal life.

I am proud to have known him and happy that my children had him as a grandfather. We are going to miss him -- and, as Larry said of his father, even though we know it's coming, it is going to be very difficult.

Sorry I don't have time at the moment to respond to each of you individually. I will try to do so as soon as possible. Thanks again and I hope you all have a great convention. ----- jim o\-S