When I would leave the house, the man next-door, and he had a lovely Irish tenor voice, would catch me and tell me how much he enjoyed hearing me play. I think he stopped whatever he was doing, maybe not his drinking, to listen.
I will always remember him for making me feel good about myself, and he taught me the importance of saying encouraging words to children and not judging people on account of their faults. Here is a piece I played.
All the credit goes to Mrs. Shirley Bracco, my teacher. She made her debut at Carnegie Hall. Of course, I was in love with her … as much as a young boy can manage that!