This one is so close to home, Peter. I have learned to let the genius go and let him "shoot himself in the foot" etc., as Molly says. BUT, it is hard to see that happen, not so much from caring for him, but from caring that it impedes the progress of the music he has written.

He is so wrapped up in one vision of himself, that he has become a mechanical person, with no soul to pour into even his composing these days. A willfull bastard who defies the deity he professes to believe in and gives no acknowledgement of any accmplishments or blessings.

He has always been so afraid he would die, unknown, then be "discovered" and not be around to reap the benefits he craves so badly. I used to buy into that "drama" as LilNeo puts it so well, but anymore, I just feel sad that he cannot see it is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I know my parents did the best they knew how to at the time, but I wish people had been a little more enlightened back then about balance in the life of a child prodigy, although since I believe in karma etc., I am not sure that would've helped in this instance and take comfort in believing this was the way it was supposed to be for all concerned.

Thanks for listening,

kat