The Next Step

In a previous post I talked about taking up guitar again even though my hands are unable to play in the normal way - all I can use are my two thumbs.  Well, yesterday, I took the next step.  I was at my daughter's for dinner and as we sat around chatting afterwards, two guys showed up with guitars.  The plan, apparently, was to get me into my son-in-law's studio for a jam.  Feeling somewhat nervous about playing with all these experienced musicians, there were four of them present, I made my way up the stairs to the studio where they set me up with my guitar and an amp and before I knew what was happening we were all making music together.

There were two acoustic guitars, an electric bass, a drummer and me on slide.   Well, I had the time of my life.  This was a first for me and something I'd always aspired to.  It's now more than 24 hours later and I'm still pumped about the whole experience.  The guys were very supportive and did everything they could to make up for my lack of confidence (and talent) with the result that I even surprised myself.  We must have played over a dozen songs and not only did I play accompaniment on all the songs but I took my turn soloing on every one of them.  

If someone had told me a year ago that this would be possible I never would have believed them.  In the eleven months since I bought my first lap steel, I have progressed far beyond where I was after 20 years of playing without any physical impairment. Instead of being a hindrance,  scleroderma has actually enabled me,  through the adjustments I made to my playing, virtually starting again from scratch, to surpass anything I thought was possible five years ago.  Obstacles can indeed be turned into opportunities for growth.  I have achieved a life long dream not despite of having scleroderma but because of it.  How's that for turning things around?

So what's  next?  I am now that much closer to working up the courage to play at the scleroderma concert in June.  Still not making any promises though.