Great video Gene. Sorry I couldnot touch base with you while in LA. We had too much on the go and I was there to meet my stepsons girlfriend so I couldn’t get away. Hopefully we will come again and have more time. Hope you are not affected by the fires! I’m lucky I got to see all the parts of LA prior to the fire. (Drove down Sunset Strip while there) I’m in shock of what’s happening there. Take care.

An enjoyable and educational video! Thanks Gene.

Thanks gents, much appreciated. I was glad that I took the footage before I sold the 12-string Maple to Rod. Sorry I missed you Rob, perhaps another time!

As many of you may or may not know, I lived in the Santa Monica canyon which was adjacent to the Pacific Palisades - it was where my high school was and where I would ride my bike to get a candy bar up in town.

The loss is unprecedented. So many of my mates folks were impacted, that is this the saddest part for me. While the Sades had it's fair share of high rollers, the community really got it's start in the 20's when a small Methodist church purchased some land and really put down some roots.

Lots of second generation immigrants - big families, small families - families of all shapes, cultures and countries. Many of whom I attended elementary, junior and high school with straight through.

Sorry to rattle on about it. I may devote some time to it in tomorrow's session, but enough has been said about all the pervading sadness, it is time to take stock and put it all back together - and never forget.