A Conversation with Delbert McClinton (continued)

PM: And where do they go, and what does a person pay to have the experience?

DM: You know, I don't even know what you pay. That's my wife's end of the deal. She runs that whole shootin match. She's up there on the phone right now. She's there all day long doing that.

PM: But we'll be sure to tell our readers where they can find out about it.

DM: Well, anybody can call 1-800-Delbert, or you go to Delbert.com [link below].

PM: Great.

DM: But it's a lot of fun. You can't explain this to anybody, because it's not like going to a concert. When you get 850 people on a boat and they're all there for the same reason, it's like a huge family.

PM: Wow, that's a bigger party than I thought. That's a little city. That's great.

DM: Oh, it's great. It really is a lot of fun.

PM: And are you the MC, overall, over the whole activity too, or do you just do your music?

DM: Well, I do my music. But every time I step out of the cabin, I got to come out with a big smile and be, "Hey, how you all doing?" Which is fine for about five days. [laughs] After that, usually, every time the cruise is over, I can't talk, because I've got to be talking all the time.

PM: Yeah, you're like the president.

DM: I'm like the president. But it's a lot of fun being the host. It's physically demanding, because you got to be at the top of your game for a week in everything you do. You can't sit down and read a book, because as soon as you do, somebody is going to want to talk. But that's okay. That's what that is, you know. But we have a great time.

PM: They go for a week?

DM: Yeah. And every year we go either to the Eastern Caribbean or the Western Caribbean. This year we're going to the Western Caribbean. We're going out of Tampa to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and some port of Guatemala.

PM: Oh, I got to look into this myself.

DM: You need to go, man.

PM: Wow. Do people go scuba diving and stuff like that?

DM: Oh yeah. The ship, you know, when you get on, they have all these things listed that you can sign up for. And if you want to do it, you need to sign up the first day, because they fill up really quick.

PM: Right. Can you get certified on the boat, or do you need to come certified if you're going to go diving?

DM: A lot of these places have elementary dives for people that are looking to get certified and more extreme dives for people that already are certified, that kind of thing.

PM: I'll just ask you one more question. You've been very gracious this morning. Any special plans for the bright future?

DM: Well, man, I just want to keep it going like it is. It's already better than I really ever imagined things being. You know, as long as I'm healthy and enjoy doing this, I want to do it. And when I feel like I'm not making it happen, why, I'll quit.

PM: I hear you. Well, it's just such a pleasure to talk to you, Delbert.

DM: Let me ask you a question.

PM: You bet.

DM: Have you heard Room to Breathe?

PM: Oh yeah!

DM: What do you think about it?

PM: I think it's every bit as good as Nothing Personal. I think it's fabulous.

DM: Oh, great. Wonderful.

PM: Yeah, and I was, you know, over the moon on Nothing Personal. And I was happy to see that Room to Breathe is every bit as good.

DM: Oh, well, thank you. Good. That's what I want to hear.

PM: Yeah, and we'll be singing the gospel about it.

DM: All right, brother.

PM: Thank you, Delbert. Take care.

DM: Okay man. Bye.  

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