11/23 Mon update, from Joe

[Joe Haldeman]

A few days ago Stephen Leigh brought by a guitar for me to play if I was in 
the mood. I tried it once and found it too difficult -- my main guitar at home 
is a nylon-string classical; the only steel-string I play regularly has ultra-light-gauge 
strings. These were regular gauge, and they hurt my fingers too much; I couldn't 
bear down enough to make a decent tone. 

Today I thought I'd try it again, and when it hurt I bore down harder -- don't 
be such a wuss -- and after a few minutes I was able to play right through the 
pain. My fingers remembered "this is the way it always is, coming back from 
a long absence." I haven't played since August. 

I strummed around and subvocalized until I found a song I thought I could sing 
with my hoarsened voice, a high one with not too many notes. When I sang it, 
Gay burst into tears. Another part of her husband was back. 

Joe