A Gentle Giant Hi John, Remember me? I am the one you sent the harmonicas to. This story happened with one of your harmonicas. Happy fourth of July to everyone. I just have to tell you what happened. In our little mountain town with single car bridges, the fourth is a pretty big holiday. This year it covered four days. This the fourth of July was the last day. There was an open mike night scheduled for the very last event. It is hard for Eric to go out at night because with Parkinson (and the fact that he's 80 years old) he looses his perception in the dark but our friend Lynn Zanetta was going to sing. Lynn comes over often and she plays the guitar and sings and Eric plays the harmonica along with her. She gives him the greatest gift of all, TIME. Eric has been having trouble swallowing but when I thought about it I decided to park the truck across the street from the theater. That way if it worked out okay with Eric and he felt good enough, we could walk down the block to the theater and when it was over someone could help me get him back to the truck. We really wanted to be there for Lynn. Everything went well and after dinner we walked down early so he could sit in a seat next to the aisle and we could leave easily if we needed to. As we left the house I said I was going to put a harmonica in his jacket pocket just in case he might want to play. No stress. Just in case. Eric has not played in front of people since he was in a harmonica band when he was very young. He is a very shy humble unassuming man. So gentle that the wild animals eat out of his hand. Lynn got up and sang. Lynn sings and writes music so beautiful. They had her come back and sing four songs. As the evening went on I asked Eric if he wanted to play but he shook his head. At the end they asked if there was anyone else that wanted to do anything. I said if not at 80 then when would anyone ever know how beautiful he could play, what would he have to lose? His hand went up. I couldn't believe it. Everyone started clapping. He asked Lynn if she would play with him. Someone handed her guitar up to the stage and she took his arm and helped him up the steps and over to sit down in front of the microphone. She said you are in for a real surprise. You are about to hear a great harmonica player. They dimmed the lights. There sat this beautiful, courageous, gentle man wearing his white Captains hat. They started off with 'You are My Sunshine' and everyone started singing along. It was wonderful. Then they played 'Skip to My Lou' because he knows I love it. That was great and the people sang and clapped with that one too. Lynn asked me what song to sing because this was a total surprise and they had not been prepared. I said I loved 'Amazing Grace' and everyone said 'oh yes'. She kneeled next to him with her arm around his shoulder and sang with her beautiful rich voice while he played. Everyone joined in again. Then he played Danny Boy. He played the notes so high and so sweet they tear your heart out. Somebody told me by then everybody was crying. They clapped and clapped and clapped for him. Even Lynn was having a hard time keeping her composure. And I was clapping, cheering and crying too. He stood up and she helped him back down the stairs so lovingly. Others helped too. As people were leaving some came down to where we were sitting and told him how much they had enjoyed hearing him play. We were the last ones out the door and there were people waiting outside to tell him how much they loved it also. One elderly lady said her father played the harmonica and she hadn't heard anyone play like that since her father died. Surprisingly the children loved hearing it too. It felt like everyone in the theater had been lifted up to a higher place. What an incredible night for my 'Gentle Giant' and all of us who were there. I thought he would only play one song and then maybe faint. But with Lynn at his side he played just like they do at home. I'm gonna keep him. mt.mary cg eric 80/28 Submitted by: Mary Vannoy Email: vannoy@cwo.com Story Type: Non-Fiction