Erie, PA: it's great on the lake.

I am on staycation through Monday while our Moms are visiting from Erie, PA.

My wife Kathy & I grew up in Erie, got married & had 3 of our 4 kids there before moving to Nashville (1982) & then Stamford, CT (1984). Both of those moves were music career-related and resulted in opportunities that are simply not available in a smaller metropolis.

I often wonder what life would've been like had we stayed in Erie. Erie will never be mistaken for a music center but I have many musician friends there who have managed to carve out happy lives for themselves. Most have "grown-up" day jobs and are still playing though gigs for live bands have dropped dramatically over the last 25 years thanks to DJs & karaoke.

I guess I'll never know the full ramifications of my decisions until my personal judgement when the archangel cues up the video of my life & hits the play button.