BILL BLOG
Monday, June 22, 2026
Hello, Monday morning. Looking for an 81-degree high today in Nashville, and maybe some rain.
THE WEEKEND
Hope you had a great Father’s Day weekend. I’m proud that Donald Payne Whyte was my Father.
And I’m proud to be the Father of this creative one, Heather Nicole Peterson.
My wife and I spent part of Father’s Day hooked up on the computer with our daughter and son-in-law, Casey, over in Germany, and we watched the movie “Michael,” which was really, really good. Michael Jaafar, who is Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, played the lead role and was incredible. I can see an Oscar nomination.
The movie is a reminder of how incredibly gifted Michael was as an artist and creative genius.
AND IF YOU DIDN’T NOTICE
It was a LONG Father’s Day, as it fell on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
BACK TO VIETNAM
I received a note over the weekend from one of our Freedom Sings USA coordinators, Akami Ayers, who let me know she dropped by the visitation for Vietnam Vet Calvin Scott, whose Vietnam story I wrote into a song titled “Back To Vietnam.”
I wrote with Calvin during a retreat up in Marion, Illinois. Near the end of his life, after fighting in Vietnam, Calvin went back with the help of family and many friends to see the country again.
Akami sent me pictures showing they ran this VIDEO of me singing Calvin’s song. And this was included on one of the tables for visitors to see as well.
One of the things Calvin did after retiring from the Army was play taps at funerals for other fallen soldiers. He was a really good man, and anyone who knew Calvin will certainly miss him.
He was a really good man, and anyone who knew Calvin will certainly miss him. I sure do.
SPEAKING OF VETS
And I want to share this great picture from Heyworth, Illinois, from the Freedom Sings USA retreat last week. 5 more veterans here holding up a plaque they were presented with the lyrics of THEIR songs. My thanks to Steve Dean and Don Goodman, who wrote the song “1967” with the veteran I had been assigned to write with.
SONG OF THE DAY
I’m finally able to share this entire song that I wrote with Stuie French, of the French Family Band, and Angus Gill, titled “Empty House,” which they included on their new album Huon to Hickory.
This is special, because this is the family singing this song on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry a couple of weekends ago. I just think Camille sings this so well, as her husband Stuie and son Sonny add wonderful guitar licks to the song. See what you think.
HEALTH NOTES
A new study points out that Michigan is the most likely place in America that travelers will find bedbugs. 1 in 57 encounter them. Michigan is followed by Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
A report claims that most Americans plan on working during their retirement. Yet few do. A large reason for that is health problems. Only 31% of all retirees are working.
A new Gallup Poll reveals that less than half of all Americans can afford health care.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Good reminder.
SUBTLE FREQUENCY
My wife Kathy’s book “Subtle Frequency” is starting to garner some great reviews from those who have bought a copy and read it. This one came in over the weekend from a friend of ours who texted me, “Hey, tell Kathy that her book was amazing and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read! I’m gonna write a review, and I’m begging for a sequel!!”
Love that. Kathy has a little book signing this week in Nashville, for the St. Phillips Episcopal Church Book Club, and even got a plug in a church bulletin. Hard to beat being in a danged church bulletin now.
THE COST OF LIVING
The median price for a home has doubled since 2020. The median is now over $400,000.
Someone pointed out that the older generation’s dream was to pay off a mortgage. The younger generation’s dream is to get one.
EXPENSIVE BAPTISM
There’s a story about an ex-hospital CEO who stole a bunch of money from the health system. (True) He then spent $109,000 of it on his son’s baptism celebration.
I’m not sure I’ve heard of baptism parties before this.
I was baptized in a river when I was young. My celebration party was me drying off.
SIGN OF THE TIMES?
In Detroit, GM just laid off 1,000 workers and replaced them with 50 robots, now making their electric vehicles. The assembly line is starting to look much different. No salaries to pay, no lunch break, no paying for health benefits…change.
SPEAKING OF CARS
I blogged not long ago about taking a couple of rides in a self-driving Tesla that blew me away. The driver never touched the wheel. We just told the car where we wanted to go, it took us there, and parked all by itself. I was thinking that I could see myself in one of those UNTIL…
I read the story this morning about a guy in Texas who claims his car was in self-driving mode when the car drove into a house and killed a woman.
I’ll probably keep driving my “hands on the wheel” car a little longer.
SPEAKING OF CHANGE
This is an AI-generated painting.
Pretty amazing. Which means that some of us will not buy something from someone trying to make a living with a paintbrush and easel.
I’m pretty sure that won’t be me, as I can’t imagine AI having the skill set to paint this masterpiece.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Arthur C. Clarke:
“I’m sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It’s just been too intelligent to come here.”
TODAY
A back to normal day after being down with a cold for a long time. Today I’m writing with former Aussie Katrina Burgoyne, who is working on a new album that will include several songs we’ve written together including “Wife Trial.” Looking forward to creating something new today.
Have a great Monday!
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