You're a musician. Need I explain? I don't know about the diving... nice side-hobby I think, extremely nice, actually, but you're a musician. Steve, no nice way to say this, but you're going to die with a guitar pick in your hand. Exactly like I'll die with drumsticks in my hands.

Something I know for a fact: You're a far better musician than I... (truth, don't try to be kind)... but I wish we could have played together at least once. NOT a gig, just jamming... some drinking, wives and family present, and just having the time of our lives.

Ya know, LOT of musician's on this board... Aries (Randy).... wish to hell I could have jammed with him. Met him once... on a motorcycle trip while passing thru Tulsa, Ok. JoeMad... sent me a song he recorded once and I STILL have it on a playlist and listen to it often. Our VERY good friend Ramsrule... I don't think he EVER played in a band... but loves music and has a guitar... I'll betcha he's better than he thinks he is. And I know more, many more... on this board.

You are probably the most successful musician from this board that I know of, (could be wrong)... I am without doubt the longest tenured musician on this board. Well, Waterfield has never mentioned being a musician so I'm assuming he's a muggle.

I'm leading up to something, have you picked up on that? Not long ago... just before Christmas, ehh, quite a bit before, like August... one of the best musician's I know, a good friend, although we see each other very seldom.. met, and played! He's very good.. NOT a shredder, like you, but very, very good. He played in a band with one of my best friends ever... a guy I grew up with, lived in my home town, almost related.. another drummer.. name of Mike. Mike was a drummer, like me, but WAY before me. He died just a few years ago, lung cancer... but this friend I'm referring to who played with Mike... and I.... were close. Had never ONCE played together.... but we had shared experiences, about the same age, had lived our lives playing music.

It was just he and I... and that because we both wanted it that way... kind of a memorial for Mike, but also because... we understood one another. BOTH of us vocalists in our early years... but long past that. No matter, we sang. And Steve, we sang WELL. We did things we were never able to accomplish in our own respective bands.

We grinned at one another... and yeah, thought a little about 'what might have been'... but mostly just thought... what great fortune he and I had been able to live. You get this. - JamesJM