Long time no blog… one month.

Time goes fast when you’re feeling better.

I really appreciate all the calls and emails from readers who have been wondering how I’m doing. It continues to be an unforgettable ride.

Update notes:
4/15: turned 45 and figured it was time to start driving again
4/23: follow up x-rays showing more bone growth
4:24: went to do my first post-accident show in Palm Springs
4/27: Weekend in Chicago for meetings – no juggling
5/5: Show in VA
5/7: follow up x-rays not showing much new growth since last time :(
Tomorrow: Show in AZ.

It’s a damn roller coaster and, as I’m sure I have stated before in these pages, I am ready to get off.

Arm mobility is at 70%. Fingers are flexible enough to close but a fist is still out of the question. Middle and ring finger still numb at the tips.

I am getting in 3 days of swimming a week. Still doing only 1,500 – 2,000 yards but putting a bit more into the strokes and getting an aerobic workout along with the range of motion time. Still no biking but a very short jog on Sunday, and that was pain-free and enjoyable.

I have been in hand therapy for 4 weeks and it seems to either help, or make things worse. I have added acupuncture to my plate and, what can I say, I am up to 8 therapists and modalities and nothing seems to be making a gross difference. If I keep my gauge set to a fine enough scale, I can indeed record improvement. Just nothing earth shaking — no mornings where I wake up and feel like something major happened overnight.

I still have this pin in my collarbone and that has to come out soon. The surgeon said at the beginning that it can be in for 12 weeks. I’m only 10 days from that deadline and still not enough bone growth to believe that the bone would hold up without the internal support. If he decides that we should go ahead and do the bone marrow graft, I will seriously hit bottom. Guaranteed. It won’t be pretty around here.

I have a busy summer with shows in Ireland and all over the states. Camping trips with the family – even more important than the shows!

In my mind I keep adding to the time I have to be patient and wait, while at the same time just feeling like I need it to be done. Getting back to work was like this quasi-wake up call that things are OK again.

Quasi sucks. It’s a partial hall pass to go out and play, but with the knowledge that I will be back for more tests, lectures, and detention.

It continues to be scary as hell, at times depressing, at other times thankful and joyous. And although I am able to be a bit more of a functioning member of the family and household, Annie is still driving the ship with spirit, compassion, and optimism 11 weeks later.

Thanks for checking in on me. This is the first entry I have typed! There’s a good sign of improvement, right?! I type as fast as ever now. Haven’t used the voice recognition software in a few weeks.

Let me end on that very positive note before I turn south again.

Barry