Rick, here I was bemoaning the loss of a hobby, not a profession.  Well, I
can't teach any more either, but it really brings home to me the outrage of
the wait for help from Singapore or South  Korea.

I "dance" on the treadmill but it is getting kind of pitiful.  I was 60 when
I got PD, you are way too young to have it.  It just breaks my heart.

((((Rick)))) from Ray
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick McGirr" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 6:10 AM
Subject: Re: PD/artistic ability/All

>I think if I was a major league ball player, I wouldn't be one of the
> noble greats who leave the game before they have to.  I would play
> until I couldn't make a team, just for the love of the game.  What do
> you mean?  No, the $3 million a year has nothing to do with it!
>
> Actually, Scott, the thing that's getting me down a bit right now is
> the fact that I have so many commitments, most having to do with
> bringing in a few bucks, that I can't work on my playing the way I
> need to.  I can still get through a rock or blues gig fine.  Most of
> that stuff is 'flash and trash', as my college prof used to say.  'But
> I like it, like it, yes I do!'  I feel like I still have some years
> left before I can't fake it anymore.  I find that the individual
> identity of each finger is what's diminishing, ever so slowly.  But I
> still have the 'groove', and if you have that, you can rock til you're
> blue in the mouth.
>
> But actually, there's a bigger fear than playing wrong notes in public
> (like that's never happened before).  I think about being a spectacle
> off stage.  If I had to hang around numerous venues between sets and
> waddle and wobble and wiggle, which I do a little bit now, it would be
> hard for people and me to feel comfortable with it.  (Hey!  This could
> be a way to get people to move my gear for me!)  This would lead to me
> explaining myself and PD quite a bit, which wouldn't be the worst
> thing politically, but the bar owner might look a bit perturbed (like
> that's never happened before).  Once it gets back to the booking
> agent, then you have a problem, 'cause word, like rot, would spread
> around town fast, and then the phone stops ringing and you're done.
>
> I have a bunch of piano students, and pretty soon I'm going to have to
> tell them why my arm shakes during lessons.  I'll have to start
> sitting behind them while they play, instead of beside them.
>
> I short, I may be going down, but I'm going to take as many of them
> with me as I can.  And afterwards, my son can entertain me.  We have
> similar, broad tastes, (Hey, get your mind out of the gutter!) and
> he's recently done his first few decent-paying gigs with a band.  I am
> blessed with a wonderful wife and family, so I'm sure I'll be fine,
> whatever happens to me professionally.
>
> I also think of my mom, a painter, who had her abilities taken away by
> a stroke a few years back.  She's in a home now, and they've been
> trying to encourage her to try some sketching with her left
> (non-dominant) hand, and she's been doing a bit.  Such a struggle for
> her.  I got it great in comparison.
>
> Enjoy Fall!
> Rick McGirr
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Scott E. Antes" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 1:42 PM
> Subject: Re: PD/artistic ability/All
>
>
>> Hi Ray and Rick and All.
>>
>> Out of town over the weekend, and saw this message first.  I, too,
>> would like
>> to know if more of our list members are musical/artistic--or if
>> anyone knows
>> of PD people who are artistic.  Laureen (my wife) doesn't really
>> talk about
>> not playing piano/organ any more.  It's only been few months since
>> she
>> stopped--and she stopped when she felt (not anyone else)her abilites
>> were
>> going downhill.
>>
>> Scott
>>
>>>===== Original Message From "Parkinson's Information Exchange
>>>Network"
>> <[log in to unmask]> =====
>>>Scott, interesting idea.
>>>Well we have Rick, our hip, humorous musician.  Some people thought
>>>I played
>>>a pretty mean piano, but I knew enough about music to know I didn't
>>>know
>>>anything. Have small hands and was too lazy to practice too.   Years
>>>ago my
>>>musician teacher of 3 months asked me to "sit in for him" at an
>>>almost empty
>>>piano bar.  I froze with fear. Does it bother your wife like it does
>>>me that
>>>she can't play any more?  PD is such an awful thief.
>>>
>>>Also could paint copies of great art, but nothing original. I wonder
>>>who
>>>else on our List has/had artistic abilities.
>>>Ray
>>
>> Scott E. Antes
>> Department of Anthropology
>> Northern Arizona University
>> Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5200
>>
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