Ashland Alumni Banquet

May 24, 2003

Nice Intro: Cerro Gordo.. Famous Author’s Day Good to be here.. For thirty years.. my only contact with Ashland has been Gene Farmer and your local cop. I’d driven for thirty years without being stopped once… then I started directing at New Salem and driving through Ashland every night.

Most recent: Fog Lights. “But it’s foggy!” “Sorry sir, that doesn’t matter.”

Country theme tonight.. I’ve lived in the country my whole life… Perry.. now Arenzville.

Some of you have been away from small towns and may have forgotten the rules so tonight I’d like to remind you of some of the rules of small town living…

SMALL TOWN LAWS One night last summer.. left S’field, for New Salem..cut across.. terrible mistake

I’d forgotten he rules of asking directions in Central Illinois..

NEBO Finally, I assume that some of you will be staying over to attend your old church tomorrow… Me: Mom: pump organ Church lady story? Need to be reminded of the Ten Commandments of small, rural churches.

TEN COMMANDMENTS It’s been good to be here tonight…not only do I like Ashland, but Norma promised me a pie.

Besides, tonight’s my alumni banquet at Perry and those small town people really make me nervous.