How cool are my friends?

I love keeping up with pals via Facebook. Many of us had lost touch over the years, but now I know that my 6th grade crush flies Air Force Two, my junior high friend just lost a beloved aunt, my daughter's former babysitter is expecting a baby son, and my friend Omid is (once again) visiting Turkey and keeping his college students enthralled with stories and history lessons.

And tonight I learned that my brilliant high school friend Ray has been featured on the PBS program "Poetry Everywhere," hosted by the incomparable Garrison Keillor. Here's a link to the poet himself, reading from his published book, Saltwater Empire. I've mentioned Raymond before, but it's delightful to hear him read his own work. Click over and see if you can detect the Southern accent...I promise, when he's not reading, he does say, "y'all."