Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I went with my friends to a jazz show this afternoon, and the group playing was headed by a friend of ours from three and four decades ago.  His band played at my fiftieth birthday party which I threw for myself instead of feeling sorry for myself.  I hired his band, and he brought along a singer (R & B) who was fantastic.  I rented a hall, had a catered dinner, flowers and a hundred people.  I danced every piece, and for a year after was apologizing to people:  "Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk more, but you know where I was".  And they did.  I danced by myself, with everyone who was on the floor.  My band leader friend had small girls back then, and when I saw them at a recent wedding they were all grown up, through college and working.  He and his wife have held complex jobs, but he's always made room for his jazz.  He can play xylophone, clarinet, small saxophone and large saxophone.  He's always had a band.  And can he play!  His African American soul shines through, and he's an amazing historian who lectures on the history of jazz.  But he says it best through his music.