Some more vacation nonsense

My friend Craig Moore is a guitar player. A true shredder and Eddie VH disciple.

My friend Brent Hopper is a hair metal fan. A true student of the genre.

I'm a fan of hair metal and of Craig's guitar playing. Inevitably, when the 3 of us get together, nonsense and nostalgia for a simpler, happier time in rock music occurs. This time I have video evidence. You may not understand it, but, I think you'll appreciate it. Enjoy!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60443309/Voltron%20Jam%20Session.mov

Chapter 3

So...that happened.

Another vacation has come to a close. I know, I know…it seems to most people that I live on vacation working as a cruise ship musician, but, I assure you it's not exactly like it seems. Don't get me wrong - it's a great job. However, even ship life has more structure than my most recent vacation. I've spent the last 10 weeks on a soul cleansing, diet wrecking, life enriching vacation experience. Without a doubt I've endured some of the best escapades of my life over the past 2 and a half months. To try and list them all would take WAY too long. I actually have a list, but, it's just not really practical. What I can tell you are some stats:

Over the last 2.5 months I've…

• spent many hours with my main man, Ted Oberlander
• spent a lot of quality time with my Mom, Joan Williams
• traveled over 6,000 miles (only 1,900 of that was on a trip to NYC/NewJersey/Boston…and I didn't count train ride from NYC to Boston and back), most of which in my car
• played lots of golf
• eaten lots of terrific meals
• tasted some refreshing micro (and…lets face it…plenty of macro) brews
• played some music (jazz in New York City, rock in Wayland, Michigan, salsa in Glen Arbor, MI and Indianapolis, IN)
• heard some music
• wrote some music
• taken the Graduate Record Exam
• gone to 4 baseball games (2 at Comerica Park in Detroit and 2 at Victory Field in Indianapolis)
• experienced my 20 year (!!!) high school reunion

And…that's just a partial list. The severely 'abridged' recap of my Vacay 2013. 

During my time on land I spent a significant amount of time at my Mom's place in Traverse City, Michigan and at the home of Craig and Adrienne Moore in Noblesville, Indiana. In fact, the Moore's became my unofficial hosts for this vacation, especially after a family emergency developed late that delayed my return to the ship. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your generous hospitality everyone! Looking forward to repaying the favor someday!

The most important part of this time was, once again, the people in my life. I tried to keep track of how many people that I met up with over this vacation and I stopped counting at 50. At the risk of sounding selfish/self-centered - I have a spectacularly large group of distinct, unique, and incredibly loving friends and family. I'm unbelievably appreciative of all of you. You continue to astonish me. Opening your homes and allowing me to crash on your couches, floors, and guest rooms. Affording me the luxury of constant WiFi, food, and cable TV. For doing what's necessary to maintain a friendship over extended time apart and massive distances. At the end of my last contract on Adventure I realized that I had recovered some of my ability and trust to be available for friendships and relationships. Vacay 2013 only served to reinforce that ability in me.

I'm looking forward to getting back on Adventure for a number of reasons. Our itinerary is phenomenal. I'll be spending time in Paris, Cannes, Pisa, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Malaga, Gibraltar, Iceland, Norway, and England until Thanksgiving. Then we cross back to San Juan, Puerto Rico for our Caribbean run of some of the most beautiful beaches and island destinations in the world. I'll be onboard Adventure of the Seas until February 16, 2014 and am anticipating an awesome time. Most of the musicians in the orchestra onboard will be the same as before, so it will be great fun to play with them again. Also, I'll be joined midway through the contract by a trumpet player with whom I've worked before on another ship. Should be a sensational time.

This contract will be a little different for me, though. I've been living in the "now" for almost 2 years. Doing what I want, when I want. Working on healing and taking great care not to "should" on myself. Not making plans of any kind and just enjoying life and experiences as they come. While I will continue to embrace life in the "this is what I'm doing right now" mode, I feel like I have recovered the potential to make some plans. I have some goals for myself over the next 7 months that are healthy and worthwhile. I'm going to work hard to achieve them. When I do, I plan to enjoy some rewards at the end that I've already set up for myself. I'm not pressuring myself to accomplish these goals in any way. I've learned that one thing is true about plans: they change. However, it will be nice to have a little more direction in my life. It's been a while. 

So, here I go again. But, a major step in the Walkabout wouldn't be complete without some iMovie magic. Follow the link below to a 7 minute video of some of the highlights from my vacation. It's not really possible to capture all the good times that I had in a short video, but, I think this does a pretty good job. Thanks for reading - stay in touch!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/60443309/Vacay%202013.m4v

A Remembrance: Monday, July 22, 2013

Lyman O'Dell Williams, PhD died this morning at approximately 8:00 am.

I believe I first met Lyman Williams when I was a very young boy. He was a museum instructor at Interlochen Arts Camp and almost assuredly taught me to tie knots, build campfires, and make sassafras tea during my formative summers in Northern Michigan. The details of that time are shrouded in the dimness of my early childhood memories, but, those that do appear when I look back on those times are very pleasant.

Lyman re-entered my life when I was in high school. My parents had divorced a few years before (vague, I know, but most of my memories of being a teenager are light pencil sketches as a matter of self preservation) and I was living in Ludington, Michigan. My Mom had met Lyman and was ready to re-marry and enter a new phase in her life. Walking into the Pizza Hut on Ludington Avenue that afternoon to the introduction of her new companion, I didn't know what to think. To be fair, I didn't have much on my mind in those adolescent years other than myself (some would say not much has changed), so it was going to be tough to win me over. Lyman did instantly though, responding to my self-serving and grasping quip, "You know your name is a soda flavor?" He just looked at me with the kindest pair of eyes I'd ever seen and softly smiled. This, I do remember.

Even though he was my step-father, I never lived with him as a child. Even though it would not be entirely accurate to describe his relationship to me as a father figure, it's also completely wide of the mark to say that I learned nothing from him. In fact, I learned a great deal from Lyman and will miss him dearly.

I will miss his intelligence. A former college professor, he was always exceedingly patient and ready to impart some of his long gathered geological knowledge upon any who would listen. He also read the newspaper every day. An actual paper newspaper. A trait deserving of respect, to be sure.

I will remember his love of pancakes. Lord Williams (an affectionate nickname) loved his pancakes and would eat them at any time for any meal. I concur and can totally relate!

I will miss his companionship with my Mom. They found each other at the right time and he helped them both navigate through some tricky life territory.

I will miss his bagpiping. Even though he was not a trained musician, Lyman was a bagpiper. I can remember him practicing at the house when I came home for visits as well as his many performances with the Grand Traverse Pipe and Drums.

I will miss his character. Lyman is one of the most beautiful people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I know people misuse the following italicized word all the time, but, I literally never heard him speak harshly to or about anyone. Ever. His sweet disposition, gentle temperament, and honest presence are incredibly valuable traits and ones that I truly admire. Without a doubt, one of the most considerate and genuine people I have ever met. As the colloquialism goes, Lyman was "good people."

Lyman is a role model not only for me, but, for others as well. He lived a long, healthy, and active life. His death was peaceful and he was comfortable during the last part of the process. During his last days he was surrounded by many family and friends who came to pay their respects. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity of knowing Lyman. You will be missed, sir. I love you.

Lyman at his retirement party from Interlochen.