You will be totally forgiven if, having read this blog, you feel the sense of wonder and fun I have been experiencing. Those things are true and I am glad to share them with you. But if that’s all you are feeling, then you’ve missed the point. “65 adventures in my 65th year” is more about joining me in a journey as I learn to embrace a new stage of life. I have never retired before (I guess most people only do it once) and it is not as straight forward as I imagined. Some of the adventures take months to plan. Others happen by accident. My new life means embracing the twists and turns, and learning to embrace helpful surprises.
Yesterday, Sherry received a text from our friend Dana – who was planning to gather a small group to go hear jazz that night. I love listening to jazz, and being with friends is on top of my list of great things to do. But it was last-minute and there was a conflict. I was scheduled to play a tennis doubles match at the same time, which was also something I was looking forward to. Dana, as fate would have it, happens to be the guy who always says “yes”, and he has encouraged me to embrace the same philosophy. So I called another friend to fill in for my tennis game and Sherry and I got dressed and headed over the bridge to NJ to the Dog House Saloon and & Grill.
We nearly drove by it – the place is best described as a shack, a dive, or a hole-in-the-wall. However, the people inside were warm and it was filled with musicians. We connected with Marie, Stuart and Sara, but Dana was going to be a little late, dealing with a last minute family issue.
Jerry Squillante was playing with a quartet that included special guest Steve Meyerson on the keyboards, and boy were they hot. Just before they took their first break, the group played the “Doghouse Blues” and it was simply amazing to feel the energy in the room.
I was a great evening. Good friends, sort-of-okay food, drinks and some amazing jazz to write home about.
Sometimes those twists end up being totally the right thing to do.
