Interesting thread, Tony and Eddy you both have great experiences. Ed, FaceTime I think we had a chat one night as I was walking around the house with my iphone

While in high school had a real interest in radio and while a senior worked at one of the big power house FM stations called WPRO-FM as a deejay/announcer. I did that for a year but my love of the stuff that's served in brown bottles got me in trouble and found myself out of that job. Went on in college to major in marketing, then went to work in sales at the Steinway Piano/Hammond organ dealer in my hometown. Fun job but it was a family owned business, earnings weren't what they should have been worked there for 3 years. Floundered around a while took an 11 week cross country trip visiting 36 states with my late cousin, the brother I never had. After the return trip went to work in the wholesale liquor business because I was an expert in product knowledge, I sure sampled enough of it to sell it. I stayed in it for 6 years but when my sales were less than I was drinking I knew it was time to find another way to earn a living. At 30 I shifted gears in a big way and got on the right road. I did manage to make some connections in the booze business with one person who was manager at one of the big tobacco companies I took the job I was offered. My ambition in life ws not to work for a company marketing cigarettes but the job came my way , the good pay, pension, 401k plan and the brand new company car ( my choice) every 2 years was a tough deal to not take. Had a very successful career there but knew that I didn't want to spend my life in the tobacco business. At 47 they offered some of us a buyout complete with pension, stocks and 401k, I took it then went back to school for another degree in Computer Service and Networking technology ( courtesy of job retraining) and worked as the IT manager of a law firm for 14 years. Retired now from full time work.

On the music side, I played piano for many years but strictly at home never played a gig until I was 55 years old. Never had visions of playing for pay but after making several instrumental CDs on a Clavinova CVP307, friends started asking me why aren't you out playing every weekend. I'd usually reply because I have a good job already, plus I work hard all week why do I want to tie up nights? After playing my first solo piano gig at a Christmas party ( yes it was Christmas not a holiday party!!) in an upscale retirement community I got hooked. In all honesty it's been fun but at times frustrating getting the bookings. This is first year of retirement and I've been coasting, but lately have been doing some computer tech support for customers via word of mouth much like Eddy is doing. Have made some good friends here at SZ and try to keep in touch with them on regular basis.