Sue's News

After the Long Night…

December 29th, 2007

The Kennedy Center honors some of our most accomplished visionaries  and leaders in the arts. Leon Fleisher was honored this December. I caught the broadcast on television Wednesday night.

Fleisher was an accomplished and amazing pianist. At his peak, Leon suffered from a rare neurological condition that virtually froze his right hand “to stone.” His fingers curled under, he was unable to play the same for many years, until a cure was found when he was in his sixties. (Until that cure was found, he turned to teaching, conducting, and playing with his left hand — thereby championing the use of the left handed repertoire.) The details of his grueling fight and miraculous spirit can be found in his biography.

What struck me most was something said during the broadcast. Yo-Yo Ma was narrating the short film spanning Leon’s life and career, and said, “After his long, dark night, Leon realized that the music was in him.”

Watching Leon listen to the musical tribute that followed, it was easy to see the music had a physical and emotional hold on him. The man lived and breathed EVERY note!

It blew me away… But what astonished me was that he said he wouldn’t have changed a thing in his life, and as painful as his physical (and ensuing emotional) trauma was, I understand that it’s when you have to fight for something, that you appreciate it more and work harder.

I’m blessed with support from my loving family and friends… I have all the time in the world. I’m healthy (physically and mentally), and still, there are days when it feels like a struggle… getting words on a page.

It’s those times when I must remind myself of the seemingly insurmountable struggles of artists like Fleisher, to realize that I can overcome anything I put my heart and mind to.

–Sue

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