Have a peaceful and productive weekend!

I used to teach piano to dults and know that there is no shame in playing the same songs as the kids! Unfortunately, I wasn’t a good teacher and I no longer inflict my sorry teaching ability on the unsuspecting public. I did find out that I am a good listener and that music has a power to heal; I will sometimes play my own music for people and am told it relieves pain–both emotional and physical. There are few places other than the occasional wedding or our family gatherings where I perform anymore. I was the church pianist in a large church for several years and I miss playing for choir and that huge sound of the music coming back to me–I loved it and I miss it. Now, In the summer evenings I open my windows and play my songs for the neighborhood. They seem to like it–at least there are no rotten tomatoes stuck to the side of my house!

My boys are all grown up now which frees up my time; instead of wallowing in loneliness I have started a small business–I’m a designer and I make one-of-a-kind clothing items out of vintage Japanese kimono. Old ladies with way too much money buy most of them but I get the odd teenager who saves her money for something fabulous. So I need to get to work! Thanks for your interest and your graciousness.

I’ll catch you again sometime.

I always wanted to play piano, but was not allowed to take lessons when I was younger. So I tried taking lessons along with my teenage daughter last year. Once past the mortifcation of beng a middle-aged woman playing the same songs as grade school children, I also found magic in the hymns and classical pieces. Unfortuntely, my peripheral neuropathy did not let me continue. Enjoy your gift, Regina, and please share it with those of us who need it so much.

P.S. You can restock the ammo if you want, but I’m unarmed. We have no quarrel as far as I know. Even if we did, I would not purposely hurt you. You don’t appear naked to me – just dressed as yourself. Thanks for the peek at the fragile beauty beneath the armor. Somehow I knew it would be there.

There is another story here you don’t know and a good part of my animosity for the creators and participators of this site has to do with a friend of mine who was treated rather abominably here. She would not want me to tell her story as she needs neither your sympathy nor my protection, and I would not be at all surprised to hear her story on a larger scale some day. However, I will admit that I still harbor some residual anger…..could you tell?

Musically, I am a classical pianist with decent improv skills and some writing ability. I am currently rewriting some old hymns in a unorthodox way. I am hesitant to explain the stylization as I have not heard it done before and as it was my son’s idea would not someone to ‘steal’ it before I’m finished. What started as a seeminglly hilarious prank has turned into something magical and moving….

Well, I now feel completely naked in a place where I usually wear armor and I’m distinctly uncomfortable. I think I need to go check my ammo…or something. Thanks for the olive branch Debbie J.

Over the years I’ve learned to trust the information that my own gift of ADD brings to my attention and I can tell you that as a gifted artist and musician I have often longed for a spiritual place to connect with other artists–but ‘emerging’ doesn’t seem like a word that’s used to express our individuality and how we can best glorify our creator with our unique giftedness–it sounds more like an ad for ‘Big Brother’ or the ‘Borg.’