You folks can't imagine how very much I have needed and appreciate the support you've given me after my little altercation with a robber about a month ago.

I was packing up to go on a client call up in Indiana, about 6:00 AM. Like an idiot, I left the front door open. A kid from the neighborhood I had actually let work every so often came in with a knife.

The resulting struggle left him with a broken wrist, dislocated sholder, a damaged knee and lots of ugly cuts and bruises. He went to the emergency room and then to jail.


I had a cut on my left upper arm, some soreness and not much else. I thought I'd be sore for a week and be fine.

I just had some reconstructive surgery this week to repair nerve damage from the cut. I have no feeling in my left hand and wrist area. That means, unless things improve rapidly, for the near future, at least, my left-handed keyboard bass, upright, bass guitar and guitar days are over.

I can still make some of my jobs. I have two tonite and one tomorrow, all on arrangers, which, as you know is my least favorite way of making music.

At least I can do that. I have to re-think the way I do things, and keep my eyes on the left hand, because the co-ordination you have with feeling the changes and positioning just isn't there.

Only other players (you folks) can understand the effects of not being able to play. Family and friends have stopped by and expressed their feelings, but, in this case, you "gotta be there" to understand.

This little incident has also dramatically affected my work in research analysis, copywriting, graphics...anything requiring using a keypad.


Driving is also a challenge. I can't handle standard shift as well as I need to and left-handed clutches on my motorcycles are "deal breakers". Luckily, I've got a couple of automatic vehicles, a couple of old restored Cushman motorscooters and an automatic Kymco, which I just rode across town to lunch and back.

Thanks so much for the support. Sorry I mentioned this in Cass's post on the 2nd Jam.
Did not intend to hijack the thread, and let my frustration get the best of me.

Be careful out there!


Russ