My wife Joanne was my high school girl friend and we have been married 46 years. Among the many many things she brings to our marriage is that of the great "Leveler".

She has an inexhaustible capacity to cut through all the spin, puff and noise to bring me down and ground me.

This is a not always pleasant for me, but I know it is a good thing as, for whatever the reason, many people seem to tell me what they think I want to hear.

A perfect example occurred recently at our First Annual Battle of the Bands. My son Alex's "Tall Boys" band (pictured) competed and I was thrilled by their performance. Afterwards, many in the ample crowd came up to me and told me how great they were and that they would surely win. However, our obviously unbiased Judges determined otherwise and I was disappointed.

Once my disappointment ebbed I considered the experience a good life lesson.

As Howard Cosell used to say, don't tell me what I want to hear, "Tell it like it is"!