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At some time in July or August of 2015 arthritis in my left hip was so painful that a performance solo gig that I had at one of my happiest customer retirement homes was almost a total disaster, and I reluctantly decided that I would have to give up performing as a solo tenor banjoist/vocalist for seniors in the Atlanta area after almost 28 years. I apologized to the young lady who booked me and told her that there would be no charge of course.
Then late in August I fell backward from trying to sit on a step stool on our back porch, broke my left hip when I hit the floor and was soon being operated on for a hip replacement. It also involved a four week stay in a rehab facility near where our daughter lived in Newnan, GA. so my wife could stay with her and the two of them could visit.
I clearly remember the surgeon's words after the operation. He said, "The good news is that you don't have arthritis in your hip anymore. because we replaced the hip." After four weeks in rehab I was walking OK with a cane and the pain was gone. At my daughter's urging my wife and I moved into a seniors independent living facility in nearby Peachtree City, GA but kept our home in the Atlanta area. At ages 78 and 75 we easily qualified as seniors, at least physically but not mentally. (We still didn't think of ourselves as "old people!") After a few weeks in the senior facility we agreed to move back home and turned in our 30-day notice. Thinking I could again put on a one-hour show of old music before we left I offered a free show and I'm delighted to report that it was a huge success - in spite of having lost some feeling in my left fingertips in the operation. (Which i've been told is temporary.)
I'm not going to try to keep a busy performance schedule because of increased difficulty moving about (bending over wall plugs, moving my speaker, mic stand, gig bag, stool, etc.), but will do what i am able giving occasional shows for seniors. (Who enjoy old music and recalling old times at least half as much as I do.)
Banjo playing keeps you feeling "young", BUT... BE CAREFUL!!
Frank Geiger (yellowdog)
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