Thanks & Renewal

Thanks for the emails and cards received for Bill and his family. The entire band, along with many past Allnighters, friends and family were in attendance at the funeral home. The family had many stories to share of their Mother and the thoughts of the grandchildren and GREATgrandchildren :-) reminded everyone of the renewal of life.

87. Eighty-seven. Now that's a life, baby! We'll all hope to be as lucky as she was to live it and her family was to enjoy her presence. If you would like to send an email or card of condolence you can write to bill@rickkandtheallnighters.com or Bill Stockwell, c/o Rick K. & The Allnighters, P.O. Box 1593, Morgantown, WV 26507-1593. Thanks again.

Fun & Sadness

Wow! What a weekend in Ocean City. Huge crowds, beautiful weather (except for a single rain shower) and we saw many of our new Ocean City friends mixed with an unusually high number of West Virginians who made the trip for a last summer fling. It was great seeing Fairmont, WV friends Mike & Beth DeMary, Janice Snider of Kingwood, WV, Dee Lee of Morgantown, WV and many more I haven't gotten to see for too long. The weekend was highlighted by a fun, post show, band dinner at our favorite O.C. restaurant, Embers, on Coastal Highway. I think it' s one of the best we have run across in all of our travels.

However, the weekend still created feelings of emptyness as I was unable to share it with Bill, my bass player and one of my closest friends for over 20 years. Bill was with his Mother who passed away Sunday, September 23 at the age of 87. I have known Bill through many years of good times and bad for both of us. The marriage of his three daughters, the birth of his grandchildren, the time of his Father's passing a few years ago and now this weekend's heartbreak. I only hope that I get to enjoy my parents for that length of time (and make it there myself :-) but no length of time feels like enough when their gone. It hurts me to know he and his family are sad this weekend.