Being raised in a community where most of my associates worked in aircraft manufacturing occupations and the rest were farmers, I didn't even get much sympathy when I lost part of a middle finger to a metal shear when I was 15. And noone seemed very surprised when I played clarinet in a concert three days later, using shifted fingers "on the fly."

One of the more popular performers in the area when I was in high school was a guy with 2 fingers and a thumb on his left hand, and 3 fingers - no thumb - on the right, who played "hellacious" boogie piano and led his own band.

There are, frankly, so many people in our local music community with bits and pieces missing, that for the most part, noone notices it. While I think I could list at least a half-dozen good local musicians with fingers or parts of them missing, I would have to "take another look" to be sure about most of them.

Fortunately, working conditions have improved, and the younger people have not suffered so many "unscheduled surgeries." The most common industrial loss now is hearing, which may be even more damaging to a musician.

I certainly sympathize with one who is injured, but as to music, it doesn't put you out of the game - you just have to "play with the hand she dealt you."

John