It gives me pause.
My hair's as long as it's ever been and I'm going to enjoy it as long as I have it.
My fingers do things they haven't done in decades, stretching this way and that, hitting the right strings in the right frets, making music.
My voice is deeper with a gravelly quality to it that I like.
It reminds me of "Preaching" when I would drop my voice an octave on a dime ... which is one of the tricks of preaching.
I don't preach anymore though I do tell stories.
Besides there's WAY TOO MUCH Preaching in the world today.
I prefer the later and I think God does too.
I do sing however ... with more regularity and have the daily challenge of finding new ... or rediscovering old ... songs for both secular and religious purposes.
The secular songs are for me ... Monty Park's Tuesday Night Acoustic Jam ... the occasional times I play a set at Benny's Tybee Tavern & Restaurant and my regular weekly gig at the Nursing Home.
The Nursing Home crowd leaves me perplexed because they've demanded I do "The Duke of Earl" next week and I have no idea how to do a solo acoustic version of that song.
But I'll tell you this ... I'm going to try ... and while it may be the "Peasant of Earl" they get ... it'll be a damn good Peasant.
"How's retirement?" I was asked the other day.
"I'm not retired," I shoot back.
"You making any money?" he counters.
"Well no," I confess, 'but I'm having a real good time."
"Really?" he asks with surprised eyes.
"Yeah, I like my life. I'm just figuring out how to finance it."
He hands me his Business Card ... he's a Financial Advisor ... and says he'll take me to lunch ... as if I had any money to advise ... though I do like lunch.
"You look happy," he says as we hug.
"I am," I tell him before asking, "Have you ever heard an acoustic solo version of 'The Duke of Earl'?"
"What?" he says ... and I think he wants his card back.
I don't care.
I'm hanging out with the Duke of Earl.
