Handsome Personified

Someone recently asked me if I remember what I was like before the stroke.
Of course I do. How could I forget? I was incredibly good looking. Probably my biggest issue back then was the jealousy of the guys. I mean how could they compete? It just did not seem fair. The playing field was not level.
And I was all muscle. 100 chin ups one arm and then the other (all the while reading a book) and then I would have breakfast. Such things were like they were non-existent for me. I must admit being like a sculptured form of what all strive to be, could be intimidating.
Obviously the stroke had a devesting effect. But I am one to see what I can do rather than to dwell on the past and mourn for what may have been lost. Maybe now I need to forgo solving Rubik’s cubes in seconds and mapping out the solutions to really complicated maths questions on a blackboard. Maybe I have had to say good-bye to the wide-eyed wonder of my contemporaries.
But I have had to learn to live with that. I have actually found that part fairly easy as nothing I have stated was ever the case or happened anyway.
There is one thing though that I really do miss. The ability to sing. I headed up a band. We called ourselves Peacemakers. I genuinely was unaware that was the name of a firearm brand. The name was all about making peace with others. While that happened we were having a great time anyway.
We played the Caboolture Air Show. There were thousands of people. Admittedly they were there to see the planes, and mostly there was an expansive piece of space in front of us. No matter though. Singers, bass, guitar, piano, drums mixer and a sound guy. Ok so the sound guy was my brother and mixing music was not really his thing, but we needed someone and he was willing to do it.
We actually sounded pretty good. We were asked to play at a rugby league club. But our career in music had ended. Just as well really. Better to go out on a high than to continue on and it be obvious to everyone that the glory days are over.
Earlier with a different group we played a university campus. With absolutely no one there. We consoled ourselves knowing they could have been listening in their dormitories. They would have heard our about five song many times. No matter though. We were having fun.
So I genuinely do miss being able to sing like I did. I know with age voices deteriorate. I just was not expecting plummet. I describe what I do now as “warble.” Though the warblers of this world would probably contest that I can really do that.
Still, the incredibly handsome thing and being all muscle would be a burden off my back. It was never the case though so I can only imagine.