Just a quick note to say I do indeed plan to keep this blog going, but I haven’t been up to anything dulcimer-related to share these past few months.
My old, familiar back issues slowed me down for a few months, but I was back in the shop working on a few dulcimers and began work on a prototype for a new model during May and early June. Then, while at a concert at an outdoor amphitheater, I took a tumble down some concrete steps. I don’t recommend you try this, especially the part where you come to a sudden stop at the end.
All things considered, I was remarkably lucky. About a third of my face had road rash, and I was very beat up, but there were no internal head or abdominal injuries.
I did, however, dislocate two fingers on my left hand and sprained the other fingers on both hands. My right hand is fine now, though my left hand will need more time to heal. Fortunately, my left hand is still able to play the dulcimer; it just isn’t very comfortable at the moment, but there is constant improvement as healing progresses, and I feel optimistic that all will be well. I also start hand therapy this week, and I look forward to that.
This experience has also shown me how much I depend on my non-dominant hand while handling tools, etc. Working at the bench requires more hand strength than playing the dulcimer, and my left hand isn’t quite there yet. This has meant taking a break from working on dulcimers, though I do hope to start easing back into working at the bench during the next few weeks. I miss it!
Since starting this blog in 2017, I have posted almost entirely about music, lutherie, and related topics, but I may branch out a bit and share thoughts about things some readers may also find of interest.
Mainly, I just wanted folks who follow this blog to know I haven’t fallen off the planet.
I hope you are doing as well as possible, especially during the strange times we are living in.
Just read the post about your fall. I’m glad it wasn’t worse! I’m having trigger finger problems in my left thumb, but I don’t use it much for dulcimer, so it hasn’t affected that. We are no longer in the house you stayed in at the Chillicothe Winter Weekend. It exploded and burned to the ground just after Christmas in ‘20. But now we are in a lovely home across the river from Peoria in Germantown Hills. If you are ever back here and need a place, we have a guest room. ?
It is so nice to hear from you again. I remember you wrote about the house fire. I’m so glad you are settled in a new home, and I do hope we get to visit again, one way or another! The hand is coming along, slowly but surely. All the best! Doug