Last week during my cello lesson I wore a splint on my right thumb as I played.  Because of arthritis, it’s the only way I can hold the bow for any length of time.

After about twenty minutes of playing (on and off), I felt my thumb escaping me … weakening, loosening.  The quality of the sound was falling away, the bow grinding on the strings. 

And then the hand and bow slipped off the strings entirely, migrating below the bridge (the wooden piece that holds the strings away from the body of the cello).

Oi!  What was that?

My friend and fellow cellist Anja told me about an attachment for the bow with an indentation for the thumb.  Apparently it’s worked for a lot of players. 

Yesterday I had an appointment with Naomi, my occupational therapist.  She tested my thumb … “It’s getting weaker.”

(Sigh)

No … Is the end of me playing the cello looming in the near future?  That would make me so sad.  Perhaps I’ll just kiss my thumb a lot.

***

On the other hand, I had an appointment with my eye doctor this morning.  She tested and tested, and showed me an image of an extra layer on my retina.  “We may have to remove it someday, but not now.  There are risks, and the benefits pale in comparison at the moment.”

“However … your cataracts are growing, and sooner or later, I’ll need to operate so the clouding of your lenses can be eliminated.  We can do it soon or leave it for a year or two.”

And then the words that shook my world …

“Your vision will be much improved”

“Maybe you won’t even need glasses anymore”

***

“What?!”

I’ve worn glasses for 60 years!  Ever since an evil French teacher put a test on the board rather than on paper.  And there I was sitting at the back of the room.  Toast.  The jig is up.  “I’ll have to wear glasses!”

So perhaps my face will be unencumbered by plastic and glass in a few months.  The body … better!

***

Rising … falling

The mystery of living