Dear Concerned,

I too wrestled for years with the question of whether my folk music guitar playing will properly prepare me for the exciting and challenging world of neurosurgery. I knew that trying to get those Doc Watson licks down was improving my dexterity and nimbleness and I truly felt that with enough practice, I'd soon be prodding tumors and tickling medula ombolongata with the best of 'em. But alas, I fear that Mr Thieme's words are all too true. Folk singin' ain't exactly brain surgery. It is, however, very close to rocket science. I'd go into the similarities but my column length doesn't allow it. Suffice it to say that while your folk music hobby won't properly train you to cut open people's skulls and muck about inside, it will give you the training you need to put all sorts of objects into low Earth orbit. So good luck, Concerned. The folks at NASA are waiting for your resume.

Muddy