The fact is I did loose my gorgeous redhead gal over a fiddle but not because of a fiddler, well sort of. What happened was this, I used play a tune called the 'Sweep's Hornpipe' on fiddle (muted) but never in public, and unknown to me I had an audience. Since I played at certain times of day lots of folk soon knew where to go to listen to ummmm 'different' music. Now I am not that good and besides the above played but a few Polkas and Hornpipes, but the fiddle was (more later) a genuine Friederich Anzio Glass of the early 1700's. Certified! It sounded mega sweet - I mean like better than some really expensive instrument.

Pretty soon, it being a small midwest town, the local bloodsuckers got wind of the fiddle. Presently my beloved was in new company and drinking a lot of alchohol, which heretofore she had never done! Next thing I knew, court writ and papers - I owned nothing except $20=00 an old car and few personal items, oh and the local Deputy accompanied me to the city limit. I understand a lawyer now 'owns' my fiddle.

I still do not play in public -my dear sister sent her son 10,000 miles with a Romanian replacement- she holds title to this fiddle and it is nearly as sweet as the Glass, in fact if there ever is a dispute over ownership it may well start ww3!

Regarding women and men and music, seems to me that a man/woman who plays anything must have at least a little intelligence, ie enough memory to store a tune or two, the coordination to play and the imagination to entertain. However I must add, having four sisters, that women are firstly moved by looks next by sounds especially jingling and next by money/power. Also 'I' notice that they are very impulsive and given to grabbing the first likely man they meet. Course there are exceptions so don't go beating me around the ears, got lots of that years ago from my sisters.