This section amounts to a continuation of "What it's all about", from last month's newsletter (for first time readers, click on the "Newsletter Archive" Quick Link, then click on the most recent back issue to read). When I began to learn that making music (for me), was ultimately for the benefit of others, I had no idea where this would take me, or that it would take me anywhere necessarily (except to the next gig). I did have a renewed understanding, after 6 months at the "Showboat", that (because of my musical background) I made an artistic and cultural connection with those of "Senior Citizen" age. Once the gig ended, I made a pragmatic decision; to mass mail to nursing homes and Senior communities to offer piano entertainment programming (not that I ever really did exactly this before, but it made sense). To my delight, I recieved a few initial responses. One of the very fijrst of these programs was scheduled for July 4, 1994 (A date that I would not ordinarily accept, but "pickins" were kind of slim at that time, so I took what I could). I got the idea that it would be best to interact with the residents of this nursing facility in between songs, to maintain momentum and the connection. When the program was to begin, I told a joke (to test how many were "with it"), and everyone laughed. "Good", I thought,"this will be easy". I proceeded to play a very familiar song (for that age group), then turned to face the residents (a process that took little more than 5 seconds), and asked; "And what was the title of that song?". Silience (crickets), panic (uh oh, now what? why are thay all staring at me, blank faced?). With what instinct I had, I leaned over to the keyboard and replayed the melody of the song, and while playing, asked again, "what is this one?". To, my relief, and surprise, everyone answered at once. With that in-flight adjustment (and a few others along the way), the program continued successfully. I was unaware of the program director sitting in the back, studying my presentation. I was also unaware (going in) that I was performing on the facility's Alzheimers Unit, and what that really meant. When the program concluded, the director met me in her office and said (after complimenting the program, for which I was relieved, since I didn't know what I was doing, or so I felt), "Joe, we just lost our music therapist. I'd like to contract you to come in for our residents once a week". After probably staring at her for a few seconds, I said, dumbfounded, "I'm flattered, but I don't even know much about music therapy, except for one research paper I did in college". She was unfazed, continuing that she obeseved how I instinctively dealt with situations and the residents, and that I was just what the facility needed. In my way of thinking, when an opportunity presents itself, I assume that it is positive for me (or, more to my thinking, of God), and the burden is on me to prove otherwise, if that is so (this appears to me to be the opposite of how some process). As I sat there, in the director's office, I couldn't help but think, "I know I'm not a music therapist. If I'm supossed to take this, just what am I getting myself into?" To be continued...