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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 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn