Since I became contracted for overseas jobs, which require some "downtime" for travel, I have effectively cut back my evening playing schedule from 6 nights to 2-3....and I'm going NUTS making the adjustment.

I started at an officers club in Fairbanks, Alaska (Ladd AFB) in 1955 at age 11 and have had 9 weeks off from working at least 4 nights a week in the following 56 years.

Now, I still get extremely nervous after dinner (played a good number of Xmas parties). It's the start of the third week. I'm seeing lots of popular TV shows for the first time.

I don't know anything else but the bandstand for evening activities (if you add "after gig" activities and adjust those "activities" for old age).

It's kind of like drying out from alcohol or drugs, I suspect.

I'm making 4 times or more the money, but the adjustment is a killer.

Luckily, I will have a small jazz room in the back of a nice restaurant in a month or so. I'll play it 5 nights when I'm in town and get friends to cover when I'm gone.

I plan to make some short day trips to see friends from here (Jim and Bill in Cincy/Dayton, my very good friend Chas in Atlanta, Rory in Nashville), and more.

So, watch out, folks; just when you least expect it, I might be looking over your shoulder.

Or, I might become a part-time Wal-Mart greeter....NOT!


Russ