Frank Sinatra Syndrome

I came down recently with the Frank Sinatra Syndrome. You say you've never heard of that?
Please don't tell me you've never heard of Mr. Frank. If so, you're too young to read this
blog. O.K., Mr. Blue Eyes had been retired from performing for several years when he decided
to do some concerts and even did a TV show.
I wasn't able to see him in concert, but caught him on TV. Well, let me tell you, it was awful!
He couldn't sing, he looked old and I said to Jim, "Why doesn't someone in his entourage, tell
him to go back into retirement, since he can no longer sing?"
How does this apply to me? Well, I had stopped playing the piano/organ at church for many weeks because my hands weren't working properly. Arthritis had gotten the upper hand (so
to speak), BUT I got the bright idea to play for the candlelight service at church and on the Sunday after Christmas. I had not touched either instrument in all that time, afraid I would
only make my hands worse--but when I went to practice with my buddy, Mary Jo, you would
think I had never EVEN seen an organ before. My hands wouldn't work properly--I had lost
use of a couple more fingers and it was just awful! After some practice, the playing only got a
little better, but I got through the candlelight service. On Sunday, however, it really fell apart.
As my fingers were fumbling around, trying to hit the right keys (and failing), I thought to
myself, "Donna, why didn't someone in your "entourage" tell you to go back into retirement,
since you can no longer play." Even my friend who backs me in all of my endeavors told me
the organ didn't sound very good over WMOI on Sunday morning.
Lesson learned! Retirement never SOUNDED so good--believe me!