The Story

It's funny in it's way. It was a just month ago Neva Pratico and I were talking about sending a gift to our troops overseas. And that was because number of the students in Clarendon, and Vermont in general, have family stationed overseas.

That gift turned out to be the newly recorded version of the song "Box of Kisses" along with hand colored boxes filled with candy, flags, hearts and notes of "thanks" and "be safe" to our troops.

The Clarendon community has volunteered their time and effort to fold and color the boxes.  [I even folded and colored, albeit I was a little rusty at coloring. I used to be so good at it.]

So many have donated their time and talent for this tribute:

• Singer Christina Skleros
• Record producer and song writer Michael Mugrage
• Clarendon art students drew and colored the CD cover    (Really cute and appropriate)
• Southview Arts Recording Studios and Jim Gilmore recorded the students singing
• Vermont Country Store donated the candy and has helped with the mailing (It will be airlifted and in some cases parachuted in to our troops)
• John Peyton of Jagger Peyton Entertainment Group, LLC has provided creative and marketing consulting. jaggerpeyton.com debuts Box of Kisses on their nationally syndicated radio show, The Lone Star Revival and on their worldwide affiliate AFN.
• The PR firm Shark Communications of Burlington VT has offered to help 
• Nimbit Music Services of Framingham MA pressed, designed and packaged CDs (200 CD’s for $300 which was our meager budget, & donated $600 more of incurred costs)
• Local radio station WJJR, at 50000 watts, has been playing the song on their morning show

The local cable access station PEG TV was over run by fans the other day when we taped an interview. Grandpas, grandmas, moms, pops, kids of all ages, veterans from WW2, Korea and Viet Nam filled the studio.

It was the first time in the history of the station they had a live audience and they were carrying signs saying God Bless America. It was Americana at it’s best. I have never shaken so many hands.

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I am not sure why but for once in my life it doesn’t feel like I am pushing a big rock up a steep hill.  It feels really good.  I guess sometimes life lets you feel a little bit lucky.