Thank goodness it’s – very early- Friday (1am)!  We are just off the coast of Florida, on our way to Key West to port in the morning.  Winding down after an incredibly packed first day, full of flights, shuttles, ports, tickets, and gangways on land and finally some food, music and friends onboard – it is safe to say that Simple Man is on its way to becoming all that Gimme Three Days was last year and more!  Cowboy Mouth took the stage on the lido deck as we set sail from Miami, into a really beautiful Thursday sunset.  There were drinks to go around for everyone, friends reuniting from last year and of course – Lynyrd Skynyrd!  The boys were ready to go from the moment they stepped off land.   With families in tow, there didn’t seem to be a strong line of where immediate family ended and the cruise family began for them.  The first Skynyrd show kicked off around 10pm in the Dynasty Lounge – I’m pretty sure they felt the kick all the way back in Alabama.   The packed house cheered and sang along to their favorites for the first time for some – and the twenty-fifth time for some as well.  No matter their age or their Skynyrd history it was a night full of memories for all – which didn’t end on the last chord of Free Bird.  On our way back to the room to rest up for the rest of the trip there were sightings of Ricky Medlocke hanging (and maybe dancing) in the disco, Billy Powell chatting with fans at the back bar into the wee hours as if they were old buddies and a late night jam session just beginning on the casino stage with a medley of Simple Man artists.  Tomorrow will be our first port – Key West – and another day crammed with much more music, somethin’ fancy with lobster and prime rib in the dining room and Marshall Tucker headlining to start off the late night music!  We wish you were hear with us to enjoy it all but we’ll wish you sweet dreams for now and let you know we’re livin’ in one!

Melissa @ Sixthman