I started my revisit to playing the piano at the beginning of October last year.

At that time two of my friends were in the hospital. In my piano journal I mentioned the deep thoughts and how it might affect my “playing”.  Three days later one of my friends passed away and I worried the other might join her. Outside of praying there was little I could do.

Birds sing. They just do. Creativity has to happen. Just because.

I think I started before October. But the journey back to the keys got serious then. I started keeping the piano journal then.

I remember trying to figure out how to start.

My friend and I were already working on bringing back our creative muses. She said I should make sure to say ‘play’ not ‘practice’. It has worked.

But when I started back I found I couldn’t play songs I memorized or at least conquered back when I was twelve.

It was embarrassing, depressing, in fact, to even think about some of the songs. And I had to have everyone in the house hide away while I played.

At first I would play for five minutes. My anxiety was so high.

I’d play far easier things or sight read what might be easy.

Early on I looked at the Shirley Temple Songbook and felt that there was no chance I’d get the rhythm. Modern rhythms, syncopation. Bane of my existence.

Well, I finally got brave and started hitting the Songbook.

Yeah, see the drawing at the top right of Early Bird? Mrs. Skinner drew that timing illustration for my 12 year old self. I’m getting it. Sort of 63 years later. Ta Da!

Still missing my Michele. But glad Yvensong is better.