THE ART OF A SENSE OF WONDER

Written for GBE2.

Everyone wonders about something at some time; usually it is mundane things like "Do they really do anything in Congress?", "Why do you hit 'start' to close down your computer?", "Why do you have new updates immediately after updating about any electrical device?, etc. Of course my favorite for the last couple of months is wondering "How a newborn can be so peacefully asleep until you start to walk to bed and then is as awake as a Starbucks addict?"

A sense of wonder is a different thing altogether and all children have it. This is a sense of being so surprised and excited by the world around you that that the joy and wonder show on your face. My 4 year old grandson showed a small example of this as we walked into his garage and were hit by a strong wind, he stated, "Wind, I didn't expect that!" He nailed it on the head, the sense of the unexpected and marveling at the surprises of the day.

As a really older person, I have come to hope that I can keep artfully holding on to my sense of wonder. As you travel through life and have many experiences, a large majority of them repeated, I believe you become blasé and too sophisticated for "wonder". I try daily to guard against that and try to see things with "new eyes". I was lucky to be there before my granddaughter was born in November and have the wonder at her looking up at me a day after she had been travelling solely with mom. The wonder of birth is easy, though, most people are touched by that.

I like to sharpen my sense of wonder on the HUGE snow globe on someone's lawn or the pink flamingoes at city hall, a stranger being unexpectedly courteous, a friend saying something you never realized about them in all the years you've known each other and my husband being truly pleased with a gift I gave him. As we boomers get older we need to try as hard as possible to hold onto our sense of wonder or we will lose a major component in the enjoyment of life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS READERS.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR: WHAT TRIP?

Written for GBE2

This week Beth has challenged us to consider what we were doing or where we were at this time last year.  She, of course, did this directly after we had all (at least those of us old enough) had been thinking of where we were 10 years ago on September 11.  For a moment, I couldn't even remember what I was doing a year ago, but WOW, I forgot we were planning for the trip of our lives.

We had both retired (or in my case perhaps asked to leave) and my husband inherited a little money.  We decided to take a trip to the one place that he's wanted to visit for years, Ireland.  My husband is pretty well traveled due to his military service and has gone to many places in Europe and Asia.  I however was never out of the United States until we visit my son in Germany a couple of years ago.  Some of the places my spouse has traveled I don't regret not seeing such as Vietnam in 1968, on the other hand I would have been happy to see Bermuda, Florence or Sicily. 

Neither of us had been to England, Scotland or Ireland before and so we decided to take a tour that would take us through all these in 11 days.  I know this tour is reminiscent of the title of a B movie, "3 countries in 11 days".  It was a little rushed, but at least we didn't personally have to drive on the wrong side of the road.  We saw little of London to our regret, but we saw York, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Waterford, and Wales.  It was fun and surprisingly we liked Scotland best of all.

One of the best advantages of the tour was meeting people from all over the world in our little troupe of passengers.  I think Canada was the country most represented then Australia, U.S., Japan and a couple from South Africa.  We learned a great deal talking to all these folks about their homes and lifestyles.  One thing we learned is that Australians love to travel and most of those on our trip had just come from another tour in Europe. 

I think that the saddest thing about this post is that when Beth posted the topic my first thought was that I had been doing nothing last year.  How did I forget such a fantastic trip? Where was my mind (not a question I usually want the answer to)? We were eating Haggis (hubby not me), listening to bagpipes, circling Stonehenge, touring castles and seeing the world (or at least the UK).  Thanks Beth for jogging my 62-year-old memory.  

A GREAT LIST OF DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS AND SOME JUST OVER 50

Below is a list that has been roaming the web of senior discounts around the country. I thought I would post it here for my readers. Remember ask everywhere, not everyone advertises them.

RESTAURANTS
A
Applebee’s: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby’s: 10% off (55+)
B
Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan’s: discount varies by location
Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
C
Captain D’s Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
Chili’s: 10% off (55+)
CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Culver’s: 10% off (60+)
D
Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
E
Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)
F
Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
G
Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
H
Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
I
IHOP: 10% off (55+)
J
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
K
KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
L
Long John Silver’s: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
M
McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
S
Shoney’s: 10% off
Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes 10% off (62+)
T
Taco Bell : 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off (55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
V
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
W
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy’s: 10% off (55+) Free senior drink
White Castle: 10% off (62+)

RETAIL

Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
Big Lots: 10% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
Clarks: 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 20% off (50+)
Kohl’s: 15% off (60+)
Modell’s Sporting Goods: 10% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)

GROCERY

Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
Fry’s Supermarket: free Fry’s VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
RogersMarketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe’s Marketplace: 5% off (62+)

TRAVEL

Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
Alamo: up to 25% off for AARP members
American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before
booking for discount)
Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
Best Western: 10% off (55+)
Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members
(50+)
CambriaSuites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club
& special fares for select destinations
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hertz: up t0 25% off for AARP members
Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+) 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
Myrtle BeachResort: 10% off (55+)
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before
booking for discount)
U.S.Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

ENTERTAINMENT
AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
BuschGardens Tampa : $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
U.S.National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services
including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 30% off
Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Great Clips: $3 off haircuts (60+)
Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)

HOW THE WORLD LETS YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE OLD!!

Tonight, on the eve of my 62nd birthday, I have enumerated how the world has made me feel incredibly old since I turned 60. Mind you, most of this activity happened after I turned 60 and after I allowed my hair to return to its natural beautiful white/gray shade.

1. I have suddenly became "hon" to most waitstaff that I run into and I have noted that even men in my age group have been referred to as the same. Also "sweetie" has come up more than I would like. If you are waitstaff, I know you mean to be polite, but it hits below the belt.

2. I have become invisible to anyone under say 47 and definitely anyone below 35. This is actually not a bad thing as I get to hear some interesting conversations. Also, I believe that boomers of my age group would make excellent spies for this very reason. We are just not there.

3. I get a senior discount; this is not at all bad and so not a complaint, just a sign.

4. I will start getting Social Security next month which is also not bad, that is assuming the government is in business at that time.

5. Lately in fiction that I have been reading, more than one author has identified a woman over 60 as an "old" woman. Oddly I think of an "old" woman as someone over 90, but I guess it's just perception.

6. Friends of my age group do not seem older or really any different than they did were when we were 20 and that includes my husband. Perhaps we have a few more physical complaints, but not really many. Interestingly the world does not believe it.

7. Younger people are amazed sometimes that I wear bizarre sneakers and know about TV shows and music that they like. Hello, we are in the same world and our generation was always on top of things.

8. Finally, even though I will be 62 in about 10 minutes, I don't feel it, however I guess I don't know what it should feel like. I have the same brain (for what it's worth), sense of humor and sense of fun that I've always had. I'll bet a lot of my faithful blog readers feel the same way.

THE "OLD" PIRATE PAM

WIND

Her mom was screaming and seeing things that weren't there. Her dad was distressed and the doctor came. She was very scared.

The next day supposed to sail; dad said go. On the boat hoisting the sails, tension was less. As the sails filled and the wind became a partner with the sailors, her tension eased away. The boat zigged and zagged on tacks across the bay and her only world was the boat and her friends.

On the breach and run toward home, the wind pushed them and the spinnaker filled. The wind whispered to her, "just be".


(For GBE2 100 word challenge)

WHEN THE MONEY TREE IS CHOPPED DOWN: Thoughts from a bankruptcy attorney

I personally have never had a good sense of the value of money. My husband will strongly agree to that fact. However, in my years of practice in the area of Bankruptcy I came to see that people were defining themselves and their self worth by money or the lack thereof.

My bankruptcy clients were some of my favorite clients because they were the exact opposite of the people that the credit card companies and banks stated they were. In the over 100 bankrupticies that I represented clients in, I can count on one hand people that might have been "trying to get away without paying", trying to defraud the creditors in any way or being in contempt of the bankruptcy process.

My clients were good people that fell on hard times. They were people that had been out of work for various reasons and had still tried their best to keep up with payments. They were people who did not come out well after a divorce and were overwhelmed. They were people who were sick and had minimal health insurance, if any at all. These people tried everything before coming to see me. They would try to work out something with their creditors and were often rebuffed. They went to Consumer Credit Counseling (at that time owned by the major credit cards) and were given a plan that was impossible to implement if they wanted to eat or clothe their children. I can say that every one of them did not want to see me and file a bankruptcy.

What saddened me the most was how embarrassed these people were who, usually through no fault of their own, were having to take a step that they found distasteful and ugly. The bankruptcy statues were set up as a "fresh start" for people whose obligations were way beyond their ability to pay. I tried to make them see it this way, but so much of their self esteem was tied up in money and the ability to provide for their families that they usually could not. Yes, some were not the best money managers on the block and some shopped a bit, but I had few gamblers and most of the people I saw had sincerely tried in every way possible to make good on their debts.

The bankruptcy laws have since been "reformed" by the strong credit card lobby in congress making it even more difficult for people to get this fresh start.

I learned through this experience that your self esteem should never be tied up in money. We are all trying our best to get by and money should never ever define the person that you are. Throughout my years of practice I learned from my clients and I can only hope that they learned to be proud of themselves.

I know the quote below is more of an environmental statement, but it does sum up my thought:

Written for the GBE2 blogging project.

FIRST LOVE: NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED

The GBE2 topics have been fun, but I haven't written on them in a couple of weeks. At first this week upon seeing "first love", I was not inspired. My husband, oddly enough, was my first male love and still continues to be after 37 years.My children and grandchildren will always be my loves. I have had loves for music, both playing and listening, certainly sailing which gave life to my childhood and I love reading. However my FIRST LOVE was without a doubt definitely and truly the library.

I learned to read young and learned to know and appreciate books early, but for me at about 6 years old there was something almost orgiastic about receiving my first youth library card. Now I could go into the place that held everything worthwhile without an adult. The Cranston William H. Hall library was (and still is) a wonderful columned structure that was almost like a cathedral to me. Inside it smelt like a library should; like the printed page, the much used binding, a little dusty and a slight smell of floor wax. Even with being restricted to the children's section, my foray into heaven with my new library card was all that I ever dreamed it would be. There were books I could easily read, books I could struggle a little to read, books that looked boring, books that were exciting, books that were fun, books to dive into. AND I could take about 3 home at a time if I returned them on time. I was a precocious brat of a child and got into trouble all the time at school, at home, and other places, but I restrained myself in the library. However, I did get kicked out once for giggling too much (the book had pink pages that was too much for me at the time) and vowed never to let it happen again. It was one of the saddest days in my childhood.

First loves wear off they say, but not here. My first paying job (i.e. 50 cents an hour) was at the Providence Public Library, when I was in high school, working in Reference and Periodicals as a messenger. I found a love of history in all the old periodicals in the stacks. In my various trips to various colleges, my only comfort zone was the library. Yes, I had friends and went drinking, etc., but it wasn't like nailing research in the library.

So how does this love story come out. After law school, I left my love (except for the law library of course) and BOUGHT books. Upon our retirement into no funds, my husband suggested (even insisted) that I visit my first lover again; how kind of him. I did and it was still waiting for me. Yes the Providence Community library had the same smell, but had added a few features. I could pick out books online from every library in the state, request them and they would be brought to my local library just for me. The magic continues; I could now download ebooks for free from the library onto my iPhone. I could still go in and browse and discover new authors or subjects just as if we had never been parted. Soon after our renewed love, my library became threatened and I did all I could to defend it, using money, contacts and the written word. It is safe for the time being and just rewarded me by the fact that I was one of the first to get a book 400 people were waiting for because my branch takes care of its branch members first. This is not unrequited love.

"A library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas—a place where history comes to life.” - Norman Cousins

FEAR OF ACRONYMS

This blog is supposed to be for the fun and enjoyment of everyone and more especially for Baby Boomer Pirates like myself, who may be sort of retired but oddly enough are not independently wealthy. I think all of us have certain acronyms that strike a bit of fear in our hearts. I only listed three. Please fill in more.

1. The very first one that pops into my mind is the IRS (Internal Revenue Service for those pretending not to be afraid). It is my true belief that if the very skilled Seal Team Six had not gotten Osama Bin Laden, the IRS would be the next U.S. group to be successful. He had to have some money here and you can believe they knew about it. They have been writing to my mother since she died; we returned the letters stating DECEASED, so now they are writing to her as Her Name Deceased. Unbelievable.

2. Many people in their 40's, 50's and even us in our 60's have a fear of the AARP (which by the way is one of the strongest lobbies in Washington). How many people who are eligible, reading this, have not joined? Show of hands. No, me either. Why, they somehow creep you out don't they. They know when you turn 50 almost before you do. They seem almost as good as group #1 (above) in finding you no matter how many times in your life you have moved. Yet, they mean no harm. They want to give you discounts. They put the "boss" (Bruce that is) on the cover of their magazine. I find usually the AAA (not too fearful) give better hotel discounts, but I will always look at AARP. They're the grim reaper of acronyms. They don't have DEATH in their name, American Association of Retired People, but they somehow smell a little of it.

3. Well at 61 I'm in the fourth quarter of life I would guess so I look at little askance at RIP. I hope it will be in peace but not for a long long time. That is one acronym that can stay away as along as possible.

Please I need more add any that strike fear in your heart.

DEAD MEN'S TALES

Speaking of great Pirate events, Dead Men's Tales will be opening shortly in Newport, RI. This is a great pirate historical tour of Newport with real pirates as guides. For more info go to: DEAD MEN'S TALES.

Keep your eye on the "Pirate Pages" for more fun pirate events.

Welcome Aboard...Tall Ship Formidable

There is a great Pirate Ship Tour that one of the Rhode Island Pirate Players will be crewing on this summer. Welcome Aboard...Tall Ship Formidable

If you are in the area of Rockport, ME this summer, check this out. I know I might just do that later in the summer. If you go, please report back to the pirate how your liked it.

Success Saboteur

I admit it, right here in front of a least 10 people, I am a success saboteur. I do not sabotage other people's success, but throughout the years I have done a good job on mine.

Believe it or not, pirate or not, I've always been a person who has pushed the limits, in school or in many other places. Always wanted to see how far I could go from what was expected and found quite definitely that this was not the road to success. Before this goes too far though I think that I need to put forth what my particular definition of success was over the years. Success to me, at the time, was not to be totally bored by what I was doing. If this was a job and boredom was on the horizon, I found ways to make it entertaining, often perhaps not that entertaining to management. When I was in school my attention would always be captured in the beginning, but if boredom broke on the horizon, my best effort went out the window. I then looked for something more entertaining or at least interesting to do.

Raising children was something that I would not say I was a success at, but it was never boring and almost always enjoyable and actually caused me to put forth my best effort. My mood still swung back and forth, but with a nice stable husband and father the kids turned out o.k.

Since I'm sure you didn't buy in for my life story, let's skip ahead to the time when I found out that there was a name for the "success saboteur" and that was bipolar illness. After a few firings and the stress of menopause, I took a break from the world for about a week in a locked floor of the hospital (where BTW I met some very interesting people, not at all boring) and started the long journey to finding out why I had sabotaged my own success and life for over 50 years. It has taken time and I'm still a saboteur, but am trying to become disciplined and use whatever talents I have for good, not evil. Writing has seemed to be that place oddly enough; in college if told to write anything I would cringe.

Here comes the "cheap applause" part. My family stood by through all of this and I have a 37 year marriage. And the people I have met blogging and writing have been so encouraging that I may have found my place in the world. I still won't turn down a plunder or a party, but it will not interrupt my success any more.

This post is part of the GBE2 blogging group.

Versatile Blogger, seriously?

Thanks to Beth our wonderful WORD NERD for this award. Everyone is so good that if you aren't in the 15 I'm passing it to it's probably because I didn't find you soon enough.

Here are the rules:
Winners- Put the above image in your blog.
Include a link back to the person who gave it to you.
Tell 10 things about yourself.
Award 15 other bloggers.
Contact the bloggers you awarded and let them know they won.

Ten things about myself: (I hate this part)
1. I don't look at the world the same way most people do.
2. I'm not really a writer, just an ex-lawyer pretending.
3. I have 2 grandsons and one on the way (don't know if boy or girl). SURPRISE
4. I like to take chances but become rather pissed when I lose money. ( file in the category of "will they never learn")
5. I'm really enjoying the GBE 2 even though it's only been one topic, the people are great.
6. I hope they don't find out I'm only a pretend writer(oh no, did I write that out loud)
7. I've been married a long time, but don't hold it against me, I'm not into change in a major way.
8. I'm always interested in things that are different or quirky or off kilter.
9. I have a cat (who hates me right now because I'm in VA and she's in RI with cat sitter).
10. My son is at a major pirate convention (read party) in Florida this weekend. Can you believe its genetic!

The selected 15 GBE 2 folks who will pay this forward are below. Check them out:

1. Sailor Talk
2. Marie Anne's Missives
3. Just Random Crap Whatever
4. Raised Eyes
5. The Trucker's Wife
6. Linda Says
7. Bright Blessings
8. Off The Record with Debbie and Tony
9. Graywolfie
10. Fit by Fifty
11. Writing Creatively
12. I Refuse to Name My Blog
13. Student of Motherhood
14. Secret About Secrets
15. Tales from the Space Donkey

Enjoy

INTRO TO BLOG

This blog will hopefully humorously deal with all of us that are aging without realizing it. My kids hate that I wear Ed Hardy sneakers (oh mom), too bad for them. I'm also in the GBE 2 with real writers so my first very tenuous post to that group is below.

I hope everyone stays along for the ride or even sail if we're lucky this summer. You will be kept on on Jimmy's (and we all know Jimmy who) activities and other great fun and thought filled items. I hope I was able to stand with the real writers read EXPECTATIONS AND SURPRISES and let me know.

EXPECTATIONS AND SURPRISES

As I thought for far too many days about this topic (in addition to traveling to HOT Virginia), I realized that without expectations there would be no surprises. I really hate the term "expect the unexpected" but I do live by the rule that to have expectations, will guarantee surprises.

Some things will always happen as expected such as:
1. A car with Massachusetts license plates will drive crazily.
2. A usually quiet baby will scream at the worst possible moment.
3. An outdoor event without a backup plan leads to rain or even snow.

Every sentient human being has expectations, whether or not they acknowledge them, i.e. the sun will rise tomorrow morning, we grow older every day, the sun will set every day. Although think about the people that were totally expecting the world to end on May 21st: SURPRISE!!

My favorite obituary (and actually I have a few) is that the person "died unexpectedly". Death was definitely in their expectations for that day. Of course what they're saying is that the person was not suffering from a slow moving fatal illness. Still does anyone REALLY expect death even if they have a fatal disease? We're all going to die (maudlin enough for you) but do we really expect to, even if it is imminent. There is something inside even the most suicidal of people that just does not expect to die; hence the sad surprise.

Surprises are both the upside and downside of expectations. On the upside, you didn't expect any more grandchildren and now, surprise, one's on the way. On the downside, you expected to graduate from college (many times perhaps), but, surprise, life got in the way. Love and relationship expectations always have the surprises built right into them. The surprise that I'm not fond of at the present time is you maybe expected to retire independently wealthy and, surprise, not even close.

I guess my conclusion to this ditty (and it certainly needs one) is that we will always have expectations, but how you go through life will be determined by the way you handle the surprises.

This post was done as part of the GBE2 blogging group

NOTE TO JIMMY BUFFETT

Yes, Jimmy, I know I stole your song title a bit with this blog (although we know titles aren't copyrightable right?). Your original title "A Pirate Looks At Forty" was made quite a while ago and both you and I are looking past 60 now, with you being a year older, still touring, a lot richer, etc. Like all Parrotheads, I feel that I am a part of the band and knowing that you're still trucking makes me happy to be a "Boomer Parrothead".

For the uninitiated reading this post, Jimmy Buffett is an average singer, but an excellent lyricist. He's no Bob Dylan, but he struck right at the dreams of those of us leaving the 1960's and having to "grow up". Now many of our grandchildren are at his concerts. That Jimmy isn't a great singer was never more apparent than when he made an album with a group of country singers like Kenny Chesney and Alan Jackson, but his songs are full of lines that I live by. He's a writer actually and has published some books, the best of which is a group of short stories titled "Tales from Magaritaville".

What makes all the difference is that Jimmy knows how to throw a party and that's what his concerts (which are sold out every summer) are all about. It starts on the tailgates in the parking lot, perhaps a little medical marijuana in the surrounding woods and lots of Margaritas. He sings about living at ease, under palm trees, without a worry or a snowy day. See why he sells out in New England! The songs that became "hits", "Margaritaville" and "Changes in Latitudes" are hardly the best of his discography, but that's o.k. My personal favorite is "African Friend" which he rarely sings in concert is about a stopover in Haiti, a night of gambling and making an unlikely friend. Listen to it once, it's on the "Son of a Son of a Sailor" album, and you will understand why I say he is a writer, not just a songwriter.

To end my note, Jimmy, I know you won't mind me using the title and I know you will help me on my journey past 60. FINS UP!