We were sitting alongside the Roslyn Duck Pond last spring and just talking easily about people and things. Jack K. was one of my former dental patients and we enjoyed and empathized with one another.

I was his sounding board when he was going through an ugly and painful divorce six years ago. Sitting in the dental chair and talking about things that hurt you is not that uncommon. Finding someone who understands and to whom you can speak freely is appreciated, even if it is a guy who eventually tells you to "Open wide."

Sounding boards work two ways. You listen and then you speak. Both parties benefit as long as both are convinced of the other's sincerity. Also neither should blatantly dominate and not give the counterpart a chance.

Jack had righted his life after the divorce and he got along well with three of his four children. They were all in their late 20s and early 30s. "You're batting .750." I said. "That's not bad at all! Even Ted Williams only batted .340, lifetime. Maybe someday the fourth kid will come to see what a good guy you really are!"

He was in a commercial business but on weekends he performed at weddings and bar mitzvahs. On one occasion I was a guest at one of these affairs and there was Jack singing in front of the band. Music was his true love and his raison d'etre. Actually his favorite period was the sixties with its Shoobie-Doobie, Wah-Wah and Bop sounds. He was an aficionado on all the background voices behind the lead singer.

As we watched the ducks swimming and flying by, he told me that he had just appeared on a radio program in Riverhead. He loved the experience. He had held forth on the doo-wop music of the 60s groups from an expert's point of view.

"How much did they pay you?" I questioned, even though it was really none of my business. He was a pal and it could have been a reasonable query.

He stopped and froze me with a serious glare.

Jack said, "Enjoy what you're doing. Never mind the pay!"

I was chastened and he was correct. If you are doing something of value to you, forget about the money! The money was only one element in the equation but not the major one.

"If you enjoy what you are doing, don't put a price on it."

Thanks Jack!