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Chuck Hinman: IJMA. The Old Gray Mare... and Mary Chuck Hinman: The Old Gray Mare (She Ain't What She Used To Be) and Mary. Chuck lets his feelings about his age related infirmities hang out for everyone to see and is reminded of his worth by a young cancer survivor. Next earlier Chuck Hinman column - Half-Soles -- Remember Them By Chuck Hinman The Old Gray Mare (She Ain't What She Used To Be) Hi Ruth and Joan (and others): I didn't realize it showed -- my self-imposed 'exile from the world' -- that is. But with inquiries from friends like you two (and some others) hopefully I am on the way back from my 'funk.' I better explain that so you won't think, "Oh, it's worse than we thought." Two reasons for Chuck's funk No. 1 -- I think I am suffering from an accumulation of frustrations brought on by my vision problems. It's strange that as hard as I try to not let it 'get me down' that it does get me down, and when I'm down on my hands and knees patting the floor looking for a dropped hearing aid (that doesn't work anyhow) that I lose it and wind up in tears -- ME, unflappable Chuck Hinman. No. 2 -- It's an emotional letdown after viewing the DVD of 'my big day' [my farewell organ concert] and being exposed to the truth that I am a fat old man -- whose hands shake, who can't see, and because he can't hear he has to set the registrations on the organ so low they sound like mud to normal people. Wonderful as it was, 200 old friends gathered to see me do something I can't do anymore. How unfair to them! Chuck decides not to share himself with the world In the days shortly after the DVD viewing I made probably some pessimistic decisions about my worth in my surroundings. I hastily decided to 'cut back,' 'hole-up,' and not 'share myself with the world.' And I don't like that decision at all. It ain't me and never will be me! I stopped writing; I rarely played the organ; I found easy excuses for canceling out of things I love doing, like playing bridge, going to church, etc.; I have given away all my music; I'm trying to get Paul and Kasi to hasten the day when they take my organ and piano, etc., etc., etc. People are missing the things Chuck usually does But what is getting to me is when people like you say, "Hey -- we have been missing your writing; is something wrong?" Or as on the crowded lunch-time express elevator, a concerned lady said, "I've been missing your organ playing -- is something wrong?" I tried to change the subject with "Don't you get tired of those same old songs?" To which she responded, "Not if you don't mind playing those same old songs for us same old people." It brought tears to my eyes when I made eye contact with all the white-haired smiling people on the elevator and they were smiling their approval. Chuck is back and feeling better about himself Yesterday afternoon I returned to my bridge club after a few weeks hiatus from sensing I was a burden to card playing because of my vision problems. I guess someone knew I needed something and guess what. I won first place over 6 tables or 24 players. Now I have an old problem of arrogance to deal with. J_ Oh me -- oh my! In conclusion -- I'm back and I have a better feeling about myself. Now, aren't you sorry you brought it up? Chuck Hinman Writer's Note: The above is an actual personal email sent on 18 June 2009 which I am re-releasing as a story with the title "The Old Gray Mare." Editor's Note: About a month later Chuck sent out this short follow-up.Mary The following is an email I received yesterday from Mary. You will soon see why it 'made my day': From: MaryChuck had let feelings about age-related infirmities hang out The above email from Mary, one of my reader friends, was written as a commentary on a piece I wrote a few weeks ago under the title "The Old Gray Mare - (ain't what she used to be)." In that piece, I did something I rarely do. I let my feelings about my age related infirmities hang out for everyone to see. I had just seen a DVD of myself and it wasn't what I had pictured myself to be. Here was this "fat, old, deaf and dumb, blind man trying to prove to his hoards of gathered friends that nothing had changed, that he (me) could still 'cut the mustard'." After viewing the DVD, I was totally undone and decided to drop out of sight including writing which keeps me going when everything else has 'gone to pot.' Unexpected encouragement causes change for the better Unexpected encouragements like this from Mary, cause me to rethink my self-worth and have a motive to 'keep on, keepin' on.' Thanks Mary (Mary is a young cancer survivor and is an inspirer to her large circle of friends including me. GO MARY!) Editor's Note: The above is slightly edited. The title here is referencing an old folk song: Oh, the old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, This story was posted on 2014-04-06 01:06:20
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Chuck Hinman - Reminiscences:
Chuck Hinman: IJMA. Half-Soles -- Remember Them Chuck Hinman: IJMA. Snipes, Remember Them Chuck Hinman: IJMA. Did You Ever Eat Dirt? Chuck Hinman: IJMA. Wisdom of Bunk King Chuck Hinman: IJMA. Now! Hear this! - Rick Stull Chuck Hinman: IJMA. The Birds And The Bees Chuck Hinman: IJMA. A Predicament Chuck Hinman: IJMA. A Pet Peeve About Obituaries Chuck Hinman: IJMA. When I Can't Sleep (2005) Chuck Hinman: IJMA. It's Snowing At Tallgrass View even more articles in topic Chuck Hinman - Reminiscences |
 
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