After a few days with friends in Los Angeles (temperature 119 degrees)
and including an extended lunch with Robbie Rhodes, I arrived early in
Chicago and by arrangement travelled (with Harold Ball from Melbourne)
to "The House On the Rock" museum.  A long-standing desire fulfilled.
There are no words for this experience but I suggest an amalgam of
awesome, over-the-top, high camp and above all, fun.  Everyone must
go there.

I passed on to the management the sad news of Dave Ramey's passing; Mel
Septon had told me when I arrived the previous night.  This refers back
thirty years to a bus journey taking attendees at the 1976 MBSI meeting
at Anaheim to San Sylmar.  Being rather new and naive I asked Al Svoboda
whether the music machines at The House On The Rock were real.  He said
"Ask the guy sitting beside you."  So I did.  "Yes," came the reply,
"They are real.  I should know because I built most of them."

This was my first meeting with Dave Ramey.  Saw him occasionally at
meetings since then and was saddened to hear of his passing.  Several
times during the recent AMICA meeting I found myself admiring banjo
machines built by Dave Senior and Junior.  And I always requested what
I believe was Dave's favorite tune, "Foggy Mountain Breakdown."

The Convention was just great: much to learn, much to share, great to
catch up with old friends and make new ones.  Visit to the Krughoff
collection was nicely judged -- all arrangements were perfect and made
for a great day with hospitable hosts and a fine collection superbly
displayed.  Then on Saturday the Sanfilippo collection and again
I am lost for words.  An overwhelming experience to be treasured for
a lifetime.  And yet with an overriding feeling of intimacy: there was
no doubt that we were in a private home rather than an institution.
At one point I found myself, in a rather dazed condition, straying
into the kitchen, where I met Marion Sanfilippo, who made me feel as
welcome as if I had just dropped in to a neighbor's home.

Thanks folks: Mel, Jasper and Marion, Jim and Sherrie, and for
technical advice on the Violano, Jack Breen and Dick Hack.  I had a
ball and will cross the Pacific again for more.  Meanwhile here's an
invitation to all: come visit us Down Under.

Michael Woolf
Wellington, New Zealand