I retired two years ago because of heath issues. I didn't want to retire. I was making a damned good living, working nearly every day, sometimes doubles, and an occasional triple. I mainly did the senior circuit, best pay, best hours and best audiences. I also filled in for friends at restaurant and nite club jobs, plus I also did some private parties and political fund raisers.

Now that I am retired, I still play the keyboard about two nights a week for an hour or so in the office where it is set up. Most of the time, I'm trying to learn songs that I never performed regularly, or new songs (old songs that I never heard before). The pain in my lower back and neck is excruciating at times, my inability to breathe without supplemental oxygen has taken it's toll. Sometimes I cannot get through a song without coughing uncontrollably, which is disheartening to say the least. And, just a few weeks ago I was told that I have macular degeneration, which leads to blindness. Last night, I was trying to play a song from the movie "Ballad of Cable Hogue", a beautiful, lively, Irish song that I heard for the first time while watching the movie on my Fire Stick. I got to coughing real bad and completely lost the sight in my left eye. Docs think I may have dislodged by lens implant. After a couple hours and some eye drops, I got most of my sight back, but my left eye is still a bit fuzzy. Scary!

I guess I'll continue to plink on those plastic keys till I'm unable to cope with the other stuff, then I'll just spend my time sailing with some hot honey on Chesapeake Bay until I cannot do that anymore. Gettin' old ain't fer wimps and sissies!

Gary