You may recognize me from some famous Sixthman moments, such as, streaking across a stage on The Rock Boat or as Patti Griffin’s 600 lb Cabana Boy in a pink bikini on Cayamo. This year I was given the honor of working with a legend in the music industry and a man who is dubbed “Elvis’ Best Friend,” Jerry Schilling. Jerry is the host of this years Elvis Cruise and he is very involved with the guests and the vibe and all of the on board anouncements. Being the character that I am on board, I was asked to help Jerry with announcements and general details on the ship, and also join in with him in making updates and delivering the details to the guests after Jerry does “his thing.” To say things were going smoother than owl $*!# is an understatement and things were trucking right along and we were knocking out announcements 3 times a day and keeping our Elvis peeps extremely informed. Jerry, the consumate professional, delivered his moments and memories and passed the mic to me and I started out. I ran down the activities list, hitting the stages and the decks… running through show time and autograph sessions… I was in a zone… the words were jumping off the page at me and they were coming across the airwaves as melodious notes of information to the guests… some even said it made them cry… and I digress. So I am nearing the end of this performance, this once and a lifetime delivery of information and then the trainwreck ensues…. Picture and Amtrack train running into the side of Mount Rushmore…. “If you need anything from Sixthman, just grab a Blue Shirt and we will be helpy to hap you” AND SILENCE……

Jerry, who has worked with the Beach Boys and Billy Joel and was the best friend to the king of rock ‘n’ roll, put his hand on my shoulder and just gave it a squeeze. The squeeze said, “Good job kid, but you just got run over by a train.” I gathered my strength, held my head high and walked out of the small office where the world was getting such great information, information that kept them on course like a beacon in the night…. “We will be helpy to hap you” ringing in my ears… and all of this done in front of the legend Jerry Schilling…

Some days are good… some days are bad… some days are like the one I had…

In the words of Elvis’ photographer, Al Wertheimer, “Kid, sometimes you get what you want, but you have to give up what you had…”

Excuses me, has anyone seen my pride….

-KAPPY