Category Archives: Daily life

Spiraling Up

Posted on by mariannedecher

I’ve been swept up in the social media world of sound bytes. I post sad news on Facebook and everyone is silent. I post a picture of my lunch and instantly get 15 “likes”. Silly, isn’t it? But I find myself having gotten lazy in terms of writing something thoughtful here.

The thought for the day is that when life spirals downwards, it just keeps on going at times and can get really ugly. I’ve, fortunately, been spiraling ever upwards since last year. I’m the happiest and feeling the best I have in EONS (not being in pain 24/7 makes such a difference). I’ve experimented with so many things; kept the best and let go of the rest. Hammer dulcimer got an honest try – twice – and then it was let go. I never thought I would like the harp but I LOVE it. Some friendships needed to be released; new ones are finally being formed. A self-owned, small business venture was unexpectedly dropped (from franchise HQ); a new one is in the works. So much more to add but you get the picture.

Ahhh – hell is behind me. Life is good.

Playing music in the hospitals through the Children's Cancer Association

Playing music in the hospitals through the Children’s Cancer Association

Zippity Do Dah

Posted on by mariannedecher

What else does one call a post when one has not posted in so long?

I have been snowed under with countless things since the end of March. I knew that at some point, I would miss those long, lonesome days of just sitting on the couch (not missing the chronic pain and vertigo), just crocheting and watching the mailman make his rounds. I have drawn all kinds of opportunities to myself but some “opps” were not altogether fun – there was an outpatient surgical procedure that had me on Vicodin for a week. I now declare that there is nothing left on me to cut, burn, poke, biopsy or stitch! The husband unit was carted off to the ER with a kidney stone. BUT…

….drum roll… there was a ton of good stuff. For the first time in *years*, I am feeling sheer excitement again. I went back to Bikram yoga last night for the first time in well over a year. Who knew that having had a cantaloupe sized fibroid tumor removed last year would make such a difference in postures and balance? I’m training for a half marathon that I’m doing as a fundraiser for the Children’s Cancer Association. I’m hosting many house concerts and music jams. I’ve started an online school program to become a therapeutic musician. (That is someone who plays one on one, bedside, for patients who are facing surgery or are in Hospice. I calm them through music! It’s a new field and I hope to blaze a trail and be employed again for the first time in ages!!). I started playing the harp and love it way more than I thought I would (along with way too many other instruments).

Just one good thing after another. Life is grand. Never thought I’d make that statement after having been virtually suicidal – or at the very least, almost completely hopeless – not all that long ago. HOORAH!

New Path

Posted on by mariannedecher

It should come as no surprise, to those who know me, that I have applied to yet another training program today, exactly 4 years and 2 months since I (unwillingly, through disability) left my career as a sign language interpreter.

I write this with a great heaviness in my heart and gut because today there was a shooting in an Oregon HS; the 74th school shooting since the Newtown massacre 18 months ago. I have cried and ranted and been so distressed today that I’ve almost made myself sick. I know – that’s not helping anything. It’s the mom heart in me that cries for the 2,800 kids who had to march out of school today with their hands over their heads amidst SWAT teams. And yes, I cry for the kid who went so wrong (and certainly the kid’s parents) who felt their only way to deal with something was through violence.

There are no easy answers to this and I will forgo any political/gun talk. But I think many people will agree that something has *drastically* changed…changed from the time I went to school when the worst offense was getting caught chewing gum. If the “climate” can change for the bad, it can change for the good. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and countless others are all testament to that.

So – I have applied to an online program to become a Certified Clinical Musician. CCMs play soothing music to distressed people; to those facing surgery (I know a bit about that!) or other medical procedures, to hospice patients etc. It is one on one, live, soothing music tailored to that person’s needs. While people are somewhat familiar with Music Therapists (Gabby Gifford had one after her near fatal gunshot wound), the focus is a bit different with being a therapeutic musician.

I will have to blaze a bold new path because being paid – if even minimally for part-time work – is not a standard yet nor is it in the consciousness of hiring parties. I’m already providing something similar in the hospitals through the Children’s Cancer Association but if they can get the musicians as volunteers – and I certainly advocate being a volunteer  – then it’s harder to make even a slight subsistence from my training. But alas – I must keep the faith.

Here’s to changing the world for the better, one distressed person at a time. Today, I need to start with myself.

 

Hiccup on the Way

Posted on by mariannedecher

Hey y’all,

It’s been eons since I’ve posted. In the last few months, I have been super busy with all kinds of things. How is that for nebulous? As of late, though, I’ve been dealing with the results of a surgery from last year not having “quite worked” (my words). Doc wants me to go under the knife again but I’ve given her a resounding NO. So it’s not anything life threatening but this latest issue is absorbing a few brain cells, and causing pain and not-so-fun stuff. I’m in good spirits, though, and playing as much music as possible. Some house concerts, and hopefully jam sessions, will be happening here soon.

I’m sending y’all sparkly rainbows and happy unicorns (who has been hitting the Vicodin again, I wonder?)

 

Leap of Faith

Posted on by mariannedecher

 

I was singing in the rain, now I’m wheezing in the breeze….

Hey Y’all!

It’s been a whirlwind of activity since I last posted anything. I fit about 2 week’s worth of hoop-de-do into a 5 day visit in Alabama with family and friends. The sunshine was incredible. Seeing friends, whom I have known for many decades, was divine. Hanging with family was super. And of course, I love the ever polite and warm southern folk. If I could blend Portland and the south, that would be Hippie and Grits Utopia!

Now for the LEAP OF FAITH – dun dun dun (ominous background music). That leap entails the moment after jumping from the airplane but a moment before the parachute opens. I just signed up to run the Portland Half Marathon on October 5th, 5 days after I turn fifty mumble mumble mumble – early 50s in any event – as a fundraiser for the Children’s Cancer Association. The last sports event I did was a Half Ironman swim in 2007. Time to dust off the inner athlete and connect with the “wow, free food at the finish line” warrior. I need to raise at least $1,000 and be able to run a gazillion miles. Piece of tofu, low sugar cake, right? 🙂

 

 

Hey Y’all

Posted on by mariannedecher

Lovely Pen Pals – you shall hear from me soon. I am returning from La La Land, also known as a computer crash and having been under the weather.

So – a question for all y’all out there. (I’m warming up for my trip back South with that kinda lingo. Sure wish the lightning bugs were already out at home. Oops – I digress). How do y’all keep up with all the social stuff – emails, Facebook, blogging etc.? I have so many lovely folks following my blog but I’m not able to keep up with all of it myself. Please know I think of you all and I’m sending a southern blessing – may you have abundant fireflies and (vegan) moonpies. 🙂

Here’s the song I am playing for my lesson on Wednesday – nowhere near as good as my teacher in the video!!!

Rebuilding

Posted on by mariannedecher

My Humpty Dumpty computer is being put together again, without any help whatsoever from the king’s horses or the king’s men! Last week the computer crashed and took with it my pictures, files, histories, address book, my stash of coupons and half of my  pantry.

And – I’m wrestling with a cold and/or allergies. While playing the banjo, it is good to have a raspy voice and sound pitiful, as if my partner and my dog ran off the same day. However, I will be playing the flute in the hospital this week – two days even. Getting air, and being able to breathe out air sans sputtering and hacking, is a lovely thing with woodwind instruments! (This week, I’m in a hospital lobby – nowhere close to any sick kids who are up on the units!!)

I see only cold meds

I see only cold meds

Puppies and Sunshine

Posted on by mariannedecher

My inventory on puppies is low but the SUN is shining in Oregon (alert the media!!), the flowers are coming up, my computer crashed and swallowed everything, my handpan should be here in 48 hours (YES!!!!) and the chamber ensemble, of which I am a member, put on a downright respectable performance last night.

Wait – did she say computer crash? Yesiree. According to Pete the computer guru, it was not a virus but a glitch that just wiped out my files, email accounts, histories, pictures, address book etc. with nary a backup. Acceptance Part 2. I can scream and cry or just pull out the banjo, wallow in flower buds, look for puppies, and sweat out any “grrr” in Bikram Yoga class. Of course, these things always happen 10 minutes before Pete leaves on yet another business trip but alas…. (Here’s the plus side of Pen Pal Letters!)

Puppies!! Sunshine!!

Puppies!! Sunshine!!

Acceptance

Posted on by mariannedecher

Trying to accept with grace and poise

Despite the racket of my mental noise

Friends are working long hours, they say

And wouldn’t they love to have my kind of day?

But I just turned down my last terping* request

Pain prevents me, I gave it my best

Can’t keep wallowing in what was “taken” from me

Can’t live in limbo as to what will be

Acceptance is daily

Neither welcomed nor easy

The past is over

The “now” is up to me

But f* the platitudes

I wail when I must

This too shall pass

Onwards or bust

(Terping – an affectionate, at least to me, slang word for being an American Sign Language interpreter. I was relatively kick-ass good at it for 11 years until 2 car accidents and 2 spinal surgeries knocked me out of the field for good. Have been trying to reinvent myself for the last 4 years. Do I feel left out when friends tell me how hard they are working and I wish I could? Sure. But I just have to keep the faith that good is on the way.

Living in the Pacific NW

Posted on by mariannedecher

How do you know that you are living in the Pacific NW? First off, let’s hope you remember growing up here or moving here. So much for rhetorical questions. 🙂

Forget finding your orientation in the woods by looking for moss growing on the north side of anything. Moss will cover everything in its path, much like the 60’s movie “The Blob”. Secondly, you can construct an entire new fir tree from the branches that smacked onto your roof all night long during last night’s storm.

Is there a good recipe for moss soup??

Is there a good recipe for moss soup??

This is only 1/3 of what I lugged and there is MUCH left in the yard. BIG picture for FULL effect :)

This is only 1/3 of what I lugged and there is MUCH left in the yard. BIG picture for FULL effect 🙂