If it were possible, I'd tell Jesse Stuart about the good times I've had impersonating him. And I'd thank him.

The year after the author died, I put together a monologue based on his books. Although I've lost exact count, I have now brought "Yours Respectfully, Jesse Stuart," to more than 200 audiences. When I first introduced the program I used padding, sprayed my hair gray, and glanced occasionally at my notes. Now, after 18 years, I don't do any of that.

It has been interesting to "become" Jesse from time to time. I think he would have approved.

There was the presentation in Elmira, New York. I sat on the porch at Quarry House and performed as the sun went down on the yard where a group had gathered in folding chairs. This was the same porch where Mark Twain had read aloud his latest passages from "Huckleberry Finn" to his family after a day of writing. For me, it was an interesting setting to introduce Jesse to a northern audience.

After my presentation in Sonoma, California, a young man there wanted to know how I got the Kentucky accent "just right." I told him I had practiced for years.

There have been other trips outside Kentucky. A hotel's ballroom in Daytona, Florida, was quite nice. I made the presentation there to a writing group. The view of the Atlantic's surf from outside the window tempted my eye contact away from the audience.

Most of the presentations have been in Jesse's homestate.

In northeastern Kentucky, very near Jesse's home, my program was part of an all-day celebration. I was inside a small room, standing in front of a large window. Although I couldn't see the rock'n'roll band, my audience could. The band was set up on the other side of the window and was performing outside for a group of teen-agers. Just as I paused for my audience to reflect on a line, the band on the other side could be heard singing "Lou-ee, Lou-ee, we gota go now. . ."

Once at the Kentucky State Fair, I performed in a curtained-off section in an exhibition hall. Nearby, in another curtained-off section, was some kind of farm machinery demonstration. The curtains were thin and the machines were louder than my microphone.

I trust that these presentations have been interesting to the audiences; certainly, they have been interesting for me. Following many programs there has been a question-and-answer session, and from these exchanges I have been impressed with how lives have been connected to the beloved author's works.

I continue to travel and present "Yours Respectfully, Jesse Stuart," and I can be contacted through email: lowe@glasgow-ky.com