The other evening at the Open Mic my friend Ed sat down and began to tentatively play an old Everely Brothers tune on the Autoharp. Then with confidence restored he play a couple old blues tunes on the guitar. The crows was universal in it's applause. Ed'd desire is un flagging but his vocal and physical skill level is diminished to half of what it once was. This would be heart breaking except that his skill level is twice what it was three months ago and 100% greater than it was in November when the stroke laid him low. Each day shows growth and return for Ed and I expect in a few months he'll be back at it, showing us how to do it right.

If there is a fate out there that causes us to have reasons for everything, good or bad, that happens to us then maybe my injury was there to help Ed with his. Ed tells me that my Autoharp was the tool that helped him get his fingers back. It wouldn't matter to me that it was my harp or my suggestion. But what does matter is Ed is up and playing again and the Autoharp as a physical therapy aid for stroke and hand injury has more validation.

It was great for me to see my theory with a little more proof to back it up. But what is really wonderful and more important to me that any theory about physical therapy I have is seeing and hearing Ed again when no one ever expected him to accomplish much at all.

Don