Jacques

Is the bass player for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. I don't know why I'm in this cool guy theme mode, but if ever there were a cool guy, it's Jacques Beaudoin. Just got off the phone with him, and he's simply so dynamic. Just reduces me to a quavering amateur in all things in life.

I mean, he knows the cream of the music world; for crying out loud, anyone who has had a long legacy with Charles Dutoit . . . has hobnobbed at L'Express with Alain Caron and Gino Vannelli . . . who is personal buddies with Michel Donato and Michel Cusson . . . well, need I go on?

So when I talk to him I have to divorce myself from all this, and he does a very good job at letting me do that. He is not some celebrity schmuck with an attitude—just the complete opposite. SO HUMBLE.

Always quick with a joke, always quick to put you at ease. Always quick to help you.

When, one very, very bad day back in the divorce era, I suddenly developed arrhythmia just EXACTLY on the day I had to pick up my now ex-wife and son (well, he is not an ex-son)at Dorval, I found myself at the Jewish in ER and I called Jacques. Guess who took the time out of his busy schedule on a dime and went and picked them up, then delivered them to my bedside.

Sometimes I shake my head.

I am so lucky . . .

Nicky, Out