Hello there,

Today I found an MP3 on an old hard drive of Uncle Dave singing 'A Nightingale Sang' and not only did it make me misty eyed but I started thinking of all the folks I used to know here. Sooo here I am and WOW! New look forum .....very snazzy Nigel. (well it may be old to you lot but it was still red and green last time I was here).

I saw a thread asking about 'that English oddball Tony' and was most surprised to imagine anyone would remember me after all this time. I was about to reply when I suddenly thought 'maybe they don't mean you' and suddenly it felt a little presumptive to reply there.

Mind you if there is another English oddball named Tony around here I just might sue him for stealing my act.

So where did I go?
Well unfortunately I got sick. I had been having health issues for a while that I could not seem to shake. At the time it was one thing after another. To cut a very long story short I eventually was diagnosed with M.S.

Initially I had a very hard time coming to terms with it. It seemed to me that for every concession I made to it there were plenty more waiting and I hated having to change my life.

Still it was not like I could tantrum at the universe forever ....well of course I could but it was not getting me anywhere. I gradually realised that grieving for what I was losing was destructive and a far better approach might be to learn to live differently and concentrate on what I could do rather than what I could not.

Unfortunately I don't play anymore. My hands claw up after only a few bars and it is incredibly frustrating after having played keys of one type or another since I was a child. Actually that is not strictly true. I sold all my gear but did end up keeping an old yammie digi piano 'just in case'. Now and then I sit down and blast out a song for old times sake. No-one can hear me so the mistakes don't matter.

For those privvy to my playing before I got sick you could be forgiven for thinking that maybe it would have improved my technique .....alas not!

Anyhows that is what happened to me ....... now.... how YOU doin?

Tony hope all is well....missed you buddy..!!! Welcome back..

Tony, it's GREAT to hear from you again. I actually tried to find you but I couldn't come up with the website or email.
Sorry to hear about your illness.
DonM

I was the one asking about that "English Oddball"...meaning it in the most friendly way possible.

I have a young lady who sings with me with MS. I met her in 1980, and she's still knocking them dead on high energy blues show stages in this area.

She's been dealing with this issue for many years. I've been with her in the hospital, through many recoveries. If you'd like to talk to another musician with M/s, I'll give her your contact info. I naturally won't say anything to her until you let me know.

I personally am DELIGHTED to hear from you again.

your friend,


Russ

Good to see you back, Tony.

Gary

Hey Donny, Don and Russ

Really lovely to see you all too.

Donny I hope you are still rocking Delaware? I can't imagine that you would not be.

Don ..... I still have your CD and play it often. Sorry that I was not contactable (is that a word?) for a while. I will update my email addy here in my profile if I can figure out how to do it. Re the illness .....no need to be sorry ..... if it has taught me anything it is that things could be so much worse and I count myself lucky these days.

Russ ....delighted to talk to you too! Don't worry I was not at all offended by te English oddball comment ...... It made me laugh and I consider it an honour to be remembered that fondly.... espescially as it has been a while.


I am so pleased that all the old faces seem to still be here. Even moreso that folks did not simply say tony who? It is like coming in after a long roadtrip to find that someone kept your slippers warm and your mug is still on the shelf in the kitchen.

EDITED to shout and wave at Gary Still travellin easy I see!

I looked for your humor daily, and certainly missed it when you disappeared.

You reminded my of the time I lived in Swindon, when my dad was in the US Air Force.

You certainly are a valued contributor, and....WE MISSED YOU, "ya ole nut" (LOL)!


R.

Tony ... sorry to hear about your illness ... I wish you the very best ...

Tony I still listen to the song you wrote about me....I love you man ! Godspeed........

Tony wrote this song about me years ago.....