When I started in the music business, I was for several years the youngest guy in the band. I had joined the union when I was 15, and my dad had to drive me to gigs and pick me up afterwards until I got my driver's license when I was 16. Now I'm the oldest one most of the time. Certainly I am in this band.

This wasn't the case the last time I took a contract on a ship, when I was playing with dear old Max. In that band I was still the youngest, though only by a year (the pianist was 55). This time I'm old enough to be the father of the guys I'm working with. Except for Vern, the musical director, they're all in their mid 20s, not long out of college. And Vern's probably only about 35. So I've gone from being the youngest to being the oldest (overnight, it seems).

On the ships, musicians are either young or old. Pre or post child-rearing years.

Sometimes I start thinking I'm one of them - one of them young'uns. I forget I have a little better than two careers on them, and that they're just starting out on their first. Oh, they have such plans! I don't know if I envy them or not, but hanging out with them brings back a lot of memories, almost all good memories.

When I forget my age like that, I may look at a dancer, or maybe an ice skater, with an eye to possibly getting to know her a little better. Yeah! As if I'm 25! But I really do forget that I'm not one of these are kids, who are mostly around Meta's age. And working with them doesn't make me one. Ah, Ricardo, don't become a dirty old man now!

Then I watch as they prepare for their hallowe'en party and get all giggly. Yikes! What was I thinking?

Today I dropped in to La Choza for lunch here in Cozumel after visiting a nature park. Most of the band was gathered there, and a few girls from the ship.

“Hey Richard, come on over. I think we can make room for you...”