Band, Rev. Channing Smith, pastor at St. Andrew's, is going to be leaving in a couple of weeks. He's been a supporter of ours for quite some time. In appreciation, we're going to play for him, after the Sunday service on August 9. If you can do this, please update TeamSnap with your availability. Note that since all the Zoom practices are also on TeamSnap, this puts the event forward a couple of pages on the availability tab. Today, as I write this, it's on page 3. Just scroll forward until you get to August 9. And on the subject of in-person gatherings, I feel obligated to urge everyone to be extra-careful. This country has been awful in dealing with the pandemic, with halfway measures and little or no follow-through. Those of us who've been practicing isolation may have been at it longer than people in countries which were quicker, tougher, and more thorough and which are now consequently opening up again. The United States, and indeed, California, are obviously not in that situation. Santa Cruz county has just been added to the state's watch list of counties with higher risk of COVID-19. The long-term health effects of this illness extend beyond a six week case of horrible flu; they appear to be serious and potentially even life-long. I cannot, in good conscience, advocate getting together in person. To do so would be irresponsible. I really miss in-person practice and performance. Playing my pipes alone is fine for a workout, and my neighbors all say they enjoy it, but it is hardly a substitute for playing in the circle. I really look forward to the day we can practice in person again, but I don't think that day should be soon. Stay safe. Stay healthy. Keep on practicing. Stephen