To the ships that have passed....

Thank you. The list is long and everyone has left their mark. If there is one major issue I have ever had with myself, it is how easily I let the relationships slip away. I have justified this with thinking "who will miss me" slip in slip out, leave them laughing and wanting more. Which brings up the Grammy acceptance speech. Where do you start and what order do you thank people and if you forget someone will they be upset.

Thanking God of course is an easy one and who knows if he is watching your speech. I mean really there must be more interesting things he can be doing.

So, I guess you thank your spouse, family, dog, 2nd cousins twice removed....not sure who they are but of course once the lottery check clears they will be calling.

Here is where it gets bit tougher. On one hand you think of the people who inspire you, and then the people you actually know who inspired you:

Teachers, only music ones come to mind of course. With out them where would I be. Still here I guess but without the love of all kinds of music. ( Ms. Travis, Mr Cook, and still my favorite teacher and friend, Jack Plovanich. Thank you for keeping it cool.) Now see there is a good example of who did I leave out and who didn't get the props they deserve.

Now you have to make that list of friends. Easy right? Pick a decade, who was in it? As time has been spinning out of control I am rapidly finishing my 3rd. Time has never been an issue to me before, it went its way and I went mine. Recently it dawned on me that I was old enough now to have an adult child...but I digress.

How does one grade their friendships. I still feel close, attached, separated but never apart. I can clearly see every feature, the sound of each voice, their sent and personality that has left its impact on my life.

So as any award show maybe you have categories:

First Friend: This goes to Damon Holt, Can't go much further back than the first day on the bus to kindergarten.

Friend of many firsts: Rob (Robbie) McGowan, we grew up together from grade to high school.

Then there was high school, having multiple personalities came in helpful. The next three have no order now priority they all have pieces of my personality disorder.

Kenny Durkin, Kris Roberson, Dell Francis. Brothers! no relation.

I would never be where and who I am with each of you. Thank you!