My last couple of weeks: Started in L.A., flew to Washington, D.C. for the International Center for Journalists, (ICFJ) dinner, drove to Newport News, VA for the christening of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. All four Ford kids were there, Mike, Jack, Steve, and Susan. Susan is the sponsor of the ship, and broke a bottle of champagne over its bow. A smashing success! I visited Yorktown, VA where I met several Civil War reenactors. Continued down to Charlotte by road to cover a story for my best client, Bank of America. They have a wonderful program that unites military families with homes that have been given up. Photographed Kira Ortega and her son Caleb seeing her new place that was donated by the bank for the first time. It was an emotional moment for everyone who was there. They were helped out by Panthers player Luke Kuechly. Kira’s husband, (Caleb’s dad), was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan. Stayed one night with Vietnam buddy, retired Lt. General and fighter pilot Tom Waskow and his wife Sheila. Attended Veterans Day ceremonies with them in Davidson, NC, heard former POW Col. Qunicy Collins speak, then visited a memorial to Sheila’s dad, Medal of Honor recipient Jerry Crump in Cornelius, NC. From there I flew to Savannah, stayed at Palmetto Bluff where I shot another job, then drove over to Hilton Head to visit old pal and former Newsweek photographer Wally McNamee. From there to Charleston where eldest son Byron and his Mission IMPROVable comic crew performed at College of Charleston. They were incredibly funny, and the city will never be the same! Stayed with old friend actor Gregory Harrison who’s shooting a new series that he’s starring in for CBS called, “Reckless.” It will air next year. Drove back to Charlotte for the Patriots v. Panthers Monday Night Football game. On the way there found a wild mud racing event where I stopped for a couple of hours. The day after the football game, (Panthers won), I visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame, then on the way to the airport dropped by the Billy Graham Library. Two more different places it would be hard to imagine! Flew to Houston for an interview with former Secretary of State Jim Baker, then ended up back home in Santa Monica. Whew! Sounds like a campaign trip. Time for a nap . . .