My favorite sister, Sylvia, is almost 5 years younger than me, and we get along very well. The last time I saw her in person was in January, when David and I joined her for dinner in her condo. Since then, we have kept in touch by telephone.
She recently called to tell me that she and her boyfriend and their friends plan to vacation in Seattle, Washington this month. These friends are going there to participate in a Gypsy Jazz Festival in memory of Django Reinhart, who founded that genre of music in France. He died suddenly of a stroke at age 43 in 1953, but his legacy lives on.
Sylvia wanted to get back into music, since these friends are all jazz musicians. Her boyfriend plays jazz guitar and plays Gypsy Jazz with his combo in Hawaii. Sylvia asked if I would give her violin lessons, again. I had given her several lessons last year, but we had taken a break this year.
Well, I had to inform her that I still had a torn rotator cuff and osteoarthritis in my right shoulder and could no longer use the bow. So, therefore, I would not be able to demonstrate how to play the violin for her. Sylvia was sorry to hear this. I was sorry, too. How unfortunate! I wanted to help her, but what could I do?
I have not played my violin since last November. In fact, music is no longer a major part of my life. I seldom listen to music anymore.
I am more into blogging and social media. I just love Facebook. I spend a lot of time writing my blog 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), doing research on interesting topics for my blog. I also like to visit other blogs to see what people are up to.
Hence, the computer is far more important to me than the violin at the present time.
What would I do if I were to go blind? Oh, my. Then, I would have to depend on my hearing, again. Do I hear music, glorious music in the distance?
I realize that it doesn’t have to be an either-or situation. But that’s how it is right now.
I think that once my right shoulder is functional again, I’ll resume playing my violin and return to the world of music. Let’s hope so.
gigi-hawaii 
September 21, 2022 at 12:13 am |
I hope so too. Your violin playing brought so much joy and happiness into your life. Perhaps you day the joy will return.
September 21, 2022 at 12:25 am |
Your younger sister is very pretty. Sorry you can’t play the violin any more, that’s hard as I know. I can’t play my piano anymore because my fingers don’t cooperate ! But there are worse things that could happen! Have a great day, hugs, Valerie
September 21, 2022 at 12:37 am |
…for me, a day without visual art and music is a wasted day.
September 21, 2022 at 1:15 am |
I am not one who has music on constantly in the background. When I am puttering about (not on the computer) I often sing or whistle.
September 21, 2022 at 2:09 am |
Lovely photo of you and your sister
September 21, 2022 at 2:26 am |
Your sister’s trip sounds like a lot of fun. I’m sorry about your own violin playing Gigi, I hope that comes back, but the important thing is you don’t limit yourself to 1-2 interests. Who knows what you’ll come up with next. 🙂👍
September 21, 2022 at 2:31 am |
I think we all go through interest spurts, sometimes motivated by physical issues (like your rotator cuff and arthritis, both of which — by the way — I am currently dealing with also) and just the time we have to work on our interests. I’m similar with painting. It is easier for me to paint up north and in the summer than home for some reason. Maybe it’s the amount of distractions, who knows? I’m just sorry that your putting down the violin for now is because it is physically so uncomfortable to play. It’s always better when it is a choice with no complications. When the time is right, you’ll find a CD you like to listen to while you write (maybe not violin, if that makes you sad) and you’ll have music in your life again. But it’s your life, your terms (to the degree that we get to pick our terms!).
I love the Gypsy jazz of Django Reinhart. I wish Rick played that instead of only classical on his guitar, but I do love hearing him play whatever it is. (On the other hand, I hate hearing him practice –one measure at a time!)
September 21, 2022 at 7:42 am |
I hope that your shoulder does heal and you can return to music. I am glad that the internet is giving you a distraction though.
September 21, 2022 at 9:06 am |
That is a shame about the shoulder pain keeping you from one of your loves.
Hope that becomes history soon. Good that you have other interests to fill the void.
September 21, 2022 at 11:42 am |
I am so sorry to learn that your shoulder is not healed yet, and hope it won’t be long. Lovely to see you and your sister together. Mr. Reinhard left a wonderful legacy. I am glad you still have your music to listen to.
September 21, 2022 at 1:01 pm |
I hope you can get back to playing your violin. That is a special talent that not many have. We all know how to “play” the computer. 🙂
September 21, 2022 at 3:46 pm |
FACEBOOK IS MY LETTER TO THE WORLD
This is my letter to the world
That never wrote to me—
The simple news that nature told—
With tender majesty
Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see—
For love of her—sweet—countrymen—
Judge tenderly—of me
—Emily Dickinson
I also love Facebook, even though many of my friends seem to despise it. I don’t get them, frankly. I don’t think they can enjoy my thoughts and music, my friendship, as much as I would like. The above poem explains my concept of my own Facebook site. I am communicating in my own way about things on my mind. It’s all Hank—my letter to the world.
Regarding music, I frequently post music I personally like, both pop and classical, from Van Morrison to Bach. Since my hearing aids are synchronized by Bluetooth with my cellphone, the sound is glorious.
I am the oldest in my family. I have two brothers and two sisters. Like you, I also get along best with the youngest. I wonder if one reason is there never has been any sibling rivalry. When I was 18 and he was 10 we weren’t even in the same ballgame. Now we’re about the same: 86 and 78, essentially the same age category. His name is David, by the way, a name you are familiar with I believe.
I have covered some of the points you raised with my own take on those subjects.
September 21, 2022 at 5:19 pm |
That’s also your yellow abstract painting up on my wall. Beautiful.
September 21, 2022 at 10:14 pm |
I too hope you will get well soon to be able to play your violin again. I don’t know how to play musical instrument except the computer keyboard.
September 22, 2022 at 5:23 am |
I´m sorry to hear you cannot play due to health reasons.
Oh, I have thought about this often, too. If I had to let go, what to choose – blindness of being deaf.
Could I ever stand to not listen to music?
But I get hectical when it´s too dark and I can´t find things.
Let´s hope we loose neither and you can play and teach again soon!
September 24, 2022 at 1:22 am |
Having to give up something you once enjoyed because of physical limitations is unfortunate, Gigi. Hopefully, in time, your shoulder will heal enough to allow you to resume. I enjoy the gypsy violin playing of Reinhardt and have a couple of CDs. Grenville cannot bear not to have some sort of music playing, so we have various types playing 24×7 and we also have a Bose in our apt which is all that is needed.