My Sincere Apologies to each of you for being late on a response: Charles, Jeff, Bent, Georg, Bo, Bill, Danny, Richard and my Lil Brother Nic.
You folks are too nice. To sum it all up. I had no idea at all that it had been so long since I retired from playing. In my mind, it had been probably no more than five or six years at the most.
Well here is how things went for me. In my mind, I knew exactly how to play each and every move and lick that I'd learned throughout my playing career. And I'd have bet anyone I could sit right down to a pedal steel, and take off from where I left off without a hitch in my playing. And that's how it seemed to be. I could tell folks each and every lick, and how to go about getting them, and all the rest that went with it. Then after sitting down for the first time and actually thinking this is going to be a piece of cake, as if I'd never stopped playing for however long it had been. Note here: "When I'd retired, from that very day, I'd never touched my steel again. I never wanted to touch one again. My hayday had come and gone and it was like turning off a light switch." People would stop in and say to me, don't you even play for your own enjoyment anymore. The answer was, Nope and never going to again. I was purely Burnt Out. I wouldn't have taken any amount of money for the great times and memories, I'd had in music, but on the other hand, I'd not have gone back to music for any amount of money either. Now that's what you call really being burnt out of the music business. I never went out to hear others, I simply wasn't interested in any area of music any longer.
Did the shock of my life come to me when I dug out my picks for the first time since as it turned out to be 1991 was the last gig on record. Wow! How was that possible? How did I turn so old so fast!
Well, after being told about the steel forum and then coming here and listening for a few years I felt the bug starting to bite to get back on steel for a little relaxation, knowing I was not compelled to have to, made it seem as if it could be a fun time, and possibly a bit relaxing.
You are all too kind. As I know I have one hell of a long road to hoe to ever get even close to where it's decent playing again. But that to me is now the challenge of a lifetime. I know there isn't enough years left but that's still ok. I'm pushing hard and have lots of health issues to overcome as well. But if desire is what it takes, then I'll eventually get there once again. Because there is one thing this old man now has, is the desire to make it back up that ladder. But this time, it's for my own enjoyment.
The message in this is: If you want to stay on top of things, then don't ever, ever quit playing or I'm willing to bet it would be the same with anyone. In his/her mind they would know each and every move and even visualize there own playing as if they'd never stopped. And when they finally decided to sit back down to one and prove it to themselves, they would get the shock of their lives. Wow! Did I ever!!!
My right leg is useless for the knee levers, and my left leg is only good for using the E's lowered and raised. So lots has had to change in the way I play. But it's fun, and also a real challenge.
And let me say this: My Lil Brother Nic, is one of the best there is. He tells it like it is, and when you ask him to evaluate something, and to speak his mind, he sure does. While at the same time, he's responsible for giving me the courage it takes to make the climb back. I think lots of People take him the wrong way in some things. But it's only because they don't truly know him.
Thanks Lil Brother, for being the Great Brother to me that you Truly Are..... You're the best.
My thanks to all once again, but remember you don't have to be so kind. I can stand the truth. Ask Nic and he'll tell you that's a fact.
Edited to add: As great a player as Nic is, I'm very honored to have the oportunity to be on one of his recent recordings with him. The tune is an old David Huston tune "Almost Persuaded" Nic's playing is outstanding as usual, but I must say: "My part in the middle leaves a whole lot to be desired." So please don't hold that against my Lil Brother. As I said, he's the best Brother a person could ever have.
That will be the next one on the Tube real soon now.
The old man "has-been", but I'm not giving up anytime soon!!!!
Yours truly
Don
I finally quit when they got to .75 a pack !