News 10 Dec. 2005:

Accident

Two weeks ago I was involved in an accident that within a fraction of a second would likely have cost me my life. As a pedestrian I was hit nearly head-on by a Vienna tram. Amazingly, though my body was doubtless in shock, I got up immediately and, while my face was stitched up where the tram hit me, I suffered no head damage.

I did break my left wrist, however, which will be in a cast for the next eight weeks.

I'm still going strong at the piano, however! My able right hand is now delighting in the only substantive work in the piano repertoire for the right hand alone, a set of variations (Op. 76, No. 2) by one of my favorite composers, in fact: Charles-Valentin Alkan, but more on Alkan later.

Even the Viennese in the hospital could hardly believe me when I related what happened, since tram accidents here are associated with death. It's true that we don't tend to appreciate what we have until it's gone. It's been a genuine Thanksgiving for me (the accident happened over the holiday weekend). I hope it has for you as well.