Re: [Harp-L] advice please

[BO <bostonmoejo@xxxxxxx>]

Patrick~


I suffered (survived!!!) a massive stroke myself 12+ years ago. I lost my speech as well as the use of my left side.  Oh yeah, I was quite confused and mentally jumbled,as well.  After years of physical, speech and occupational therapies, my speech has come back 100% and my mind has (almost) returned to it's pre-stroke lucidity but I'm still partially paralyzed on my left side.  I walk (with the aid of a cane) with a gimp, that I'm told, will be with me for life.  I still can't move my fingers on my left hand and will most likely never be able to again. Prior to the stroke I was a string player (guitar, mandolin, mostly and other sundry stringed instruments, with the mando being my "main" instrument.)  Since the stroke I haven't been able to play any instrument that requires two hands. That's what led me to the harmonica. I began to study the (diatonic) harmonica as a result of my inability to release my creative juices otherwise. For a number of years, in the summertime, I have traveled from my home in Boston (in the northeast of the U.S. to the mountains of West Virginia (an 18+ hour drive...I obviously didn't do the driving) to study at the Augusta Heritage Folklore Center in Elkins, WV with some of the best diatonic harmonica players/ instructors in the U.S.(Joe Filisko, Phil Wiggins, Annie Raines, et al.)


So, I would encourage you to go to Argentina if you can safely travel unattended or get someone to go with you if you are unable to travel alone. You're still you.


I have seen stroke peers recover 100% and I have seen others just give up and not even try to recover, wasting away in a wheel chair. The ones that have had the quickest and fullest recoveries are those that did stuff. You sound like you're frustrated, which is totally understandable. but you can overcome your new limitations. 
You may now have a disability but I'll submit to you that it's probably not an inability.
YMMV


p.s. Chicks dig guys with canes and if you can blow the harp, whoa, you've got it goin' on, man.


God speed & best wishes from a stroke buddy from across the pond.



-----Original Message-----
From: Phyllis731 <Phyllis731@xxxxxxx>
To: harpwales <harpwales@xxxxxxxxxxx>; harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Feb 2, 2015 10:29 am
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] advice please


Patrick, so sorry to hear about your predicament.  I can't imagine  your 
state of disappointment.  I know many who have fully recovered from  strokes.  
Please enlist the best physical therapist you can find and work  hard at 
rehabbing.  If your will is strong enough and your body cooperates,  you just 
may play again and
get to Argentina.  Best wishes for full recovery.
 
Blues Girl Phyllis
Isn't it wonderful the  way the world holds both the deeply serious, and 
the unexpectedly  mirthful?




In a message dated 2/2/2015 9:07:13 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
harpwales@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

i was  about to travel to argentina to pick up on the music of tango, ie i 
have been  learning to play it on chromatic for over 5 years, solid.
just a couple of  weeks before i was due to go i had a stroke. i can no 
longer perform, or even  walk without the aid of a quadropod.  so now all that 
ambition is banging  around inside me with nowhere to go.
could anybody please suggest a way out  of this situation.
best
patrick  ellis


www.patrickellisharmonica.co.uk