In a recent post by somebody, the suggestion was made to mention 5 things you could do (or something to that effect). I've been thinking ever since.

So now might be a good time to confess that I play the piano. I say "confess" because few peope know it--I'm that bad and hesitate to admit it!

See, I took piano lessons for about 5 years as a kid, then didn't play for 50 years. Luckily, I can read music. I talked my father into giving me his 1916 Chickering baby grand handed down from my grandfather's wedding present to my grandmother (mother's side).

I've been hacking away at it, now for about 10 years. I'm horrible, but I love playing! A true labor of love. I can't do Bach or Scarlotti, but I can do show tunes and jazz--the old standards. I have trouble with the fast ones, i.e., "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing" (Duke). Otherwise, I try to do the best I can, and improve (and failing).

So why did I quit in the first place? Several reasons: I wasn't good (and criticized, not encouraged). I became a teenager with other priorities. Competition, or, rather, "comparisons". My younger twin sisters had surpassed me by a mile (embarassing). Both my parents were superior pianists, mom classically trained (IU music major), dad a jazz man (think Nat King Cole). At 95, he's still playing (on the retirement village piano). During all those early years, I felt like a failure. I could never in a million years reach their ability level.  So, I quit. 

Of course, I've regretted quitting, but happy to have restarted. I may be bad, but I CAN play and enjoy listening to my piano. Just don't ask me to play in front of anybody. That's why nobody knows!