BILL BLOG
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Tuesday morning, awake in Marion, Illinois, getting ready to return to Nashville. 79 for the high today here in Marion with some light rain
YESTERDAY
Songwriter Bill DiLuigi and I made the three-and-a-half-hour trip from Nashville to the Marion, Illinois, airport.
We were there for Freedom Sings USA to give a concert for those who had gathered to welcome home over 80 veterans who went on the Honor Flight to DC and back.
We had a little on-and-off again rain, but that did not stop us from playing songs we have written with veterans from that region.
I had three veterans of mine who I’ve written with, who were there for the event.
Mine were Bob Caraker, an Army helicopter pilot who flew missions in Vietnam, Calvin Scott, an Army Vietnam veteran, who got out of the hospital the day before to make it to our concert, and Art Fager, who led 151 men into combat in Iraq, and got home with all but one young soldier, Sgt. Brian Romines.
What an honor to have all three men there to visit with and listen to their songs “live” one more time in front of an appreciative crowd.
Sometimes, I reflect and wonder how I got so lucky to do what I do—my thanks to Martin and for taking great care of us for this wonderful event.
SHOW STOPPER
First time for this yesterday, watching a gaggle of Beauty Queens and Princesses doing the Macarena with their tiaras on as they did at yesterday’s event.
No, I resisted the urge and did not join them.
SONG OF THE DAY
Seems appropriate to share another song I wrote with a veteran, this one being with Carl Johnston in Heyworth, Illinois, who was a chaplain in the Army. His song is titled “Cross on the Collar.” When he got out of the service, he went home to Heyworth, where he is a minister today.
HEALTH NOTES
A new study suggests that high doses of vitamin D in pregnancy may boost kids’ school performance.
Another new study highlights that people with a biological age older than their chronological age have a higher risk of developing dementia and may develop the disease earlier in life. A special blood test can determine that, allowing one to take preventive measures.
Research shows that eating eggs 5 times a week could cut Alzheimer’s risk by 27%.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Something for all the conspiracy theory folks.
SUPER BOWL
It looks like the NFL is going to give Nashville a Super Bowl in 2030 today…officially. That’s largely because Music City dropped a LOT of dollars to build a new state-of-the-art football stadium for our Titans that will open next season.
I’m looking for a lot of out-of-towners to come here and buy cowboy boots and cheap cowboy hats.
MORE AI
How about an AI robot that can do laundry and iron clothes?
Some of the AI folks are saying we’re close to having the option to buy one of those. After mulching for the past several days, I’m hoping I can get one that’s good with a wheelbarrow as well.
EXPENSIVE TO FLY
Turns out that Air Force One is expensive to fly. How expensive? $3,000 a minute. The recent Trump visit to China alone cost 5.2 million. Wow. Hard to Uber to Shanghai, though.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Eric Church, who said this while giving a commencement speech for his alma mater in North Carolina.
“The world doesn’t need another cover song; it needs an original.”
TODAY
On the way back to Music City after a great time honoring our veterans here in Marion, Illinois.
Have a great Tuesday!
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