I pm'd Don Bledsoe yesterday to see how he was doing and he sent this response, to post here.
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Hello Carol,

Thank you for the inquiry. Unfortunately things have been less than good for me and the family. As I think you know I tried to save my daughter's house in Napa but that didn't work out so next thing was to get her and her family into a rental, that cost me $5k, but at least they are in and can start the road to recovery.

Two weeks ago my 84 year old mother called to let me know she was in the hospital with an undiagnosed heart condition (she lives in Lake Tahoe) so I have been trying to deal with that from a distance but now plan to go there March 21st through 29th to help her and my dad get their affairs in order (I was shocked to find the don't have wills... and they have expensive property in Tahoe, Oklahoma, and California). My son is out of work and can't land a job so am dealing with that too. Sometimes I think God is testing me and I'll be darned if I will be found wanting so am doing all I can to help all of my family. Needless to say I haven't had time for much of anything else what with watching out for my own job with the State of Idaho, who is facing major budget shortfalls and layoff of State workers (that could be me) so I have had the nose to the grindstone. But!!! I have not sold a single telescope so have all my stash in tact. Although I also have had not chance to use any of them... well I did get out once this past fall for a one night viewing session, for an hour or two.

As soon as I can work through some of these things I will be back on the forum. I miss all of you on the Cloudy Nights Classics Forum and can't wait until I have more free time to join back in. Feel free to post this on the forum to let everyone know I miss them and the camaraderie of the Forum and hope to be back soon, and that I especially miss being out under the night sky with a classic telescope.

And congratulations on the 838! That is indeed a find!

God Bless you and your family,
Don... hanging in there

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