From Cabaret:

- Sing - "What good is sitting alone in your room? Come to the Cabaret."

- Nothing ventured - Nothing gained!

- Extend yourself!

- You can't win it, if you are not in it!

- Take a chance!

All these exciting slogans are used to get us up and off our fannies to do wonderful things. If we just relax and read the newspapers, etc., nothing will happen. Nothing bad can happen, but nothing good will happen either.

Last Monday night I performed a gig at the Jericho Library. I read some of my columns and we had close to 100 people in the audience. For about six weeks I looked forward to the date. I had done readings many times before, but each time is slightly different.

About a week before, I began rehearsing my talk and sharpening up my delivery. I was not nervous but, honestly, I was concerned. I said to myself, "Who needs this excitement? Why am I opening myself up to criticism?"

But my other self (my performer self) said, "Do it, you know you love to read your better columns to a group. It is an exhilaration."

Now the question - Was the end result worth all the concern and doubt that came before the finish? The answer undoubtedly: YES, IT WAS!

It was the satisfaction of having completed a task successfully. I enjoyed every moment of the hour and 15 minutes of my speech. I enjoyed speaking to the friends, strangers and readers of my column after the reading was over. A job well-done! I felt great!

And now those slogans:

Nothing ventured - Nothing gained - True.

Take a chance! - Yes sir.

Extend yourself! - No pain, no gain.

You can't win it, if you are not in it! A fact.