I blogged here about the late Jane Scott, who was still reviewing rock bands into her 80s. Today I thought I might write on a couple mature gals in wheelchairs who write a political blog on WordPress. Unfortunately, their language is too salty for a blog associated with Luna & Stella. So I’m going to tell you about a jazz musician who, having been rediscovered in his 80s in a nursing home, and is back in the business.
As Dan Barry writes in the NY Times, “For years, the donated piano sat upright and unused in a corner of the nursing home’s cafeteria. Now and then someone would wheel or wobble over to pound out broken notes on the broken keys, but those out-of-tune interludes were rare. … Then came a new resident, a musician in his 80s with a touch of forgetfulness named Boyd Lee Dunlop, and he could play a little. Actually, he could play a lot, his bony fingers dancing the mad dance of improvised jazz in a way that evoked a long life’s all. …
“And so Mr. Dunlop would have remained, summoning transcendence from a damaged piano in the Delaware Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, his audience a couple of administrators, a few nurses and many patients beset with dementia, loneliness and age — were it not for a chance encounter … .
“In the spring of 2010, a freelance photographer named Brendan Bannon arrived to discuss an art project with nursing home administrators — and Mr. Dunlop greeted him at the door. … A bond quickly developed, and before long Mr. Dunlop invited his new friend to hear him play what he referred to as “that thing they call a piano.” Mr. Bannon, who knows his Mingus from his Monk, could not believe the distinctive, vital music emanating from a tapped-out piano missing a few keys.
“ ‘He was a beautiful player,’ Mr. Bannon says. ‘He was making it work even though it was out of tune.’ ” Read the whole story.
I told my kids that I used to hope I’d make a splash before I was 40. Then before I was 50. Now I’m thinking 90 is more realistic.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
I think you’re making a splash with this blog! Have you ever posted your bio?
I’d certainly be interested.
Thanks, NWG. My bio isn’t all that exciting, but I’ll think about sending you something. I really appreciate your support. What’s nice about doing a blog is that you can draw on all the random things you know about and like. I never get to recite poetry in my day job!
I never get to recite poetry in my day job!
Ditto! Yes, this is what’s great about blogging–and you *do* have an excellent one.
Thanks, Asakiyume. Your blog has been a role model, asakiyume.livejournal.com.
The story provokes all sorts of feelings–and this is even before reading the whole article. Very glad for his gift of music and for the fact of his sharing it….
I like to think of the pleasure he takes in playing that piano, even if he feels confused much of the time in his old age.