After 3 months, Dr. Harron looked at me again Monday and declared it's almost over - I've done about as well as could be expected in this time frame, given age and condition. I'm going to finish out this month of physical therapy appointments, which finally turned the corner after the first month, then I can go back to work in early February. The only restrictions will be self-imposed, and common-sense based. I've been keeping up a daily schedule of routines, including getting up early, so hopefully the return to work won't be too much of a change. They tell me I've been missed... not sure how to take that! It'll be strange being around so many people again after 4 months in relative solitude, but nice to see the crew there too. Some of us are pretty close.
On a more serious note, being away for this extended period has given me a lot of time to think about things. I'm 27-1/2 years into this job, and it's time to start planning for the exit from public service, and get on to what's next. I'm not going to be physically able to do this job much longer... given how advanced the spondylitis in my back already is, certainly not another 15 years. Once I reach the age of 50, and have 30 years of service, I can retire. Of course I'll be doing something else... maybe it'll be expanding my shop to something more than it currently is, maybe it'll be some private sector consulting in the waterworks industry. After all, I'm somewhat free to travel, and from what I read, people need water all over the place. I've got time to think about it, but my days of climbing ladders and pulling wrenches and firehoses are coming to an end soon.
After a pretty good scare that started last Spring, I'm now confident (and VERY thankful) that I'll at least be able to continue playing bass. It remains to be seen whether that means I'll be a performer again, or if playing music is just a personal enjoyment thing. Again, just happy to be playing at all. I'm pretty lucky that all the people I'm involved with musically, are quite anxious to get me back out there, and I have accepted a couple jobs in Spring. If it turns out the long nights of load-in and load-out with a little music in-between is too much, then I'll know I can still play at home, or jam with my buds on the odd weekends. The only way to know for sure if I can hack it, is to try.
To that end, I've been making some changes... one of the first moves was a Hover Harness, from a Club Member here. (Thanks, Rich!) This invention shifts the weight of a bass from the neck and shoulders to the hips and chest. Alternately, I got myself a nice, comfortable stool with a back support to either play from, or at least rest between sets. I'm also [in the process of] switching my gig rig up so that it's lightweight and modular, without sacrificing anything in power or giving up any tone. Actually might gain a little bit here. I've started letting a few basses go too. I never have sold a bass that I was happy about, but so far so good... I've converted them into something I can use more. I did end up with a pretty cool Guild Starfire II that I've bonded with in one of those deals. Ultimately, the Alembics are staying... and there may even be another in the future. You never know!
So as this crazy chapter draws to a close, I'd just like to say Thanks Again to everyone here for the well-wishes, even visits, and phone calls from some of the gang here. It's been kinda' therapeutic to chronicle the story, and helped to pass the time.
