Well, yesterday I did my first public performance since having the aneurysm. I was nervous at first, but managed to get through it. I played at a get together in the town of Mapleton, with approximately 200 people in the audience and did four songs... Me And Bobby McGee, Snowbird, City Of New Orleans and accompanied a small group of fiddlers.
We left there and drove to Fort Fairfield, where a group of musicians had gathered at a church to perform. That was the special one, because the fiddle group from New Brunswick was there, and about 2 years ago, we had worked up a nice arrangement of Snowbird with me singing and playing guitar and three young fiddlers playing an accompaniment. That song really went over well, and it's always great to see the fiddlers! I also did Blowin' In The Wind and IYCRMM. I was terribly nervous at first, which is quite unusual for me. I rarely get nervous. I guess it was because I hadn't played in public for at least 7 months.
Next week, I'm going to start going back to the weekly fiddle jam. I probably will stick to the guitar for awhile, because I'm really rusty on the fiddle.

Cathy,

this is really wonderful - I'm so happy for you!!! I can only imagine how hard and frightening the last couple of months must have been for you.

Warm greetings from Minnesota - Claudia

Cathy, I cannot tell you how much your message moved me. I read it thru a mist of tears.
FANTASTIC! I never doubted your ability and determination to 'come back'. Congratulations.
{{{{{Cathy}}}}}}

Actually, I was too out of it to be frightened.
But not being able to finger pick scared me a little. I do have my prioties, you know.

Thanks for the kind words, Claudia.

It was pretty moving for me, too. Especially doing Snowbird with the fiddlers.
When I got there, I was off in a back room practicing a couple of songs, at the time, singing Song For A Winter's Night, because we were right in the middle of that 'blizzard', which dropped an entire inch of snow on Northern Maine. :eek: I looked up and there was Garold, my fiddle teacher, with a big smile on his face. He went out and told the fiddlers that I was in there singing, and they all rushed in to hear. Then there was a lot of hugging, and even a few tears.

Actually, I was too out of it to be frightened.
But not being able to finger pick scared me a little. I do have my prioties, you know.

Thanks for the kind words, Claudia. [/QUOTE]

Cathy,

Good to hear you're performing again.

How is the finger picking coming?

[quote]Originally posted by Claudia:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Cathy:

Quote:

Originally posted by Claudia: [qb] Cathy, this is really wonderful - I'm so happy for you!!! I can only imagine how hard and frightening the last couple of months must have been for you. Warm greetings from Minnesota - Claudia

Actually, I was too out of it to be frightened.
But not being able to finger pick scared me a little. I do have my prioties, you know.

Thanks for the kind words, Claudia.


Oh Cathy,

now you really got me laughing quite a bit. But I understand what you mean. Not beeing able to do the things you love most must be terrifying. And I'm really glad your hard work paid off! My own fingerpicking made some progress but when I asked my teacher to show me how to play "Ojo" from Kottke, it clearly defeated me and I had to admit - it's way out of my league, yet :)

Congradulations Cathy!! That is wonderful news! keep up the great work!
Bill

\
Ouch That was rather pointed Al give the poor girl a chance!!
But then Cathy's own web site does still say
"We hope to have the CD available early in 2004"
but just as with Gord we are lucky to still have her with us

Oh Cathy that is great! How wonderful for you, a huge step and I bet it is a weight off your shoulders to know that you are back in step again.
We had faith!

Thanks.
The fingerpicking is pretty much back to normal, just a hair slower sometimes. I now the problem had to do with the aneurysm, but probably a little bit to do with just not playing enough, both before and after.

[quote]Originally posted by Claudia:
quote:Originally posted by Claudia:

Quote:

Originally posted by Cathy: Quote: Originally posted by Claudia: [qb] Cathy, this is really wonderful - I'm so happy for you!!! I can only imagine how hard and frightening the last couple of months must have been for you. Warm greetings from Minnesota - Claudia Actually, I was too out of it to be frightened. But not being able to finger pick scared me a little. I do have my prioties, you know. Thanks for the kind words, Claudia.

Quote:

Oh Cathy, now you really got me laughing quite a bit. But I understand what you mean. Not beeing able to do the things you love most must be terrifying. And I'm really glad your hard work paid off! My own fingerpicking made some progress but when I asked my teacher to show me how to play "Ojo" from Kottke, it clearly defeated me and I had to admit - it's way out of my league, yet :)

I like listening to Leo, but for some reason, have no drive to learn any of his tunes. Chalk it up to laziness!

It's being made now. For some reason, I just wasn't too interested in it for a few years. I'm sure it had something to do with my illness.

\
Ouch That was rather pointed Al give the poor girl a chance!!
But then Cathy's own web site does still say
"We hope to have the CD available early in 2004"
but just as with Gord we are lucky to still have her with us [/QUOTE]Thanks, John. I'm sure you realize how it is!
Does it really say that? Sheesh.

Hi Cathy, I m Yves SAVARIAUD from france, we do not really know each other, but I'm sometimes in touch with members of your Gord's gang.
I join other members beeing happy that your're on stage again and in agood shape continuing the beautiful stuff I've been listening to on your site.
Yves

Yes. It felt like old times for sure!

Cathy I'm so happy for you. I wish I could have been there. But, hey, there is that CD you've been promising us!! Soon.... soon... I know. We have patience and, as Brink says, faith. After all, anything worthwhile is worth waiting for, eh?

Rave on!

Cathy,

That's great to hear. So I guess I will get a chance to sit next to you in the front row again one of these days. Cool.

Bill :)

I wish I'd been there Cathy!
I have to admit that while you were in hospital I couldn't listen to your music without getting upset so I had to stop....especially SFAWN...

You are doing so incredibly well it's really quite miraculous...maybe a little angel is watching over you.
;)
Keep practising and we'll expect great things in November and I can't wait for the CD.....
Char

Thanks, Yves.
By the way, you're musicianship isn't too shabby, either! I've got a couple of your songs in my music folders.

[ February 16, 2006, 08:14: Message edited by: Cathy ]

The CD is in the process of being made. I guess I just loss interest in it for a year or two. Chalk it up to the aneurysm.

Yes. There's an angel hanging in my window, watching over me.

I played SFAWN tonight at fiddling. Playing over there is such an emotional thing. They all know how much I've been through, and when I play, the room becomes as quiet as a church. And then they all erupt in clapping and cheering when I'm finished. I look around, and everyone is smiling, like it's their own kid up there playing.