cynthia

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So far cynthia has created 602 blog entries.
1 05, 2017

Buy me, Mr. Shane

2020-05-05T12:56:33-07:00

The Andrews Sisters didn't sing about hookers, and the songs from Hair really aren't about hair, shattering some of my longest-held perceptions. Backstory: I'm not your typical music lover; I pay no attention to the identity of the groups doing the music I love, and I don't usually listen much to the lyrics. I typically hear just enough of what's [...]

Buy me, Mr. Shane2020-05-05T12:56:33-07:00
3 04, 2017

Room 15: Paying it forward

2020-10-06T15:56:30-07:00

"Does THIS look better to you?!" she raged, pointing to her leg, "It's supposed to be ELEVATED. Does this look elevated?" I smiled weakly, made a note: The lady in room 15 is not up for small talk. On Friday night, Sept. 16, 2016, I fractured my left femur just above Elmo, my replacement knee. I lived in a wheelchair, [...]

Room 15: Paying it forward2020-10-06T15:56:30-07:00
1 04, 2017

Whippersnapper

2020-10-06T16:28:11-07:00

"What did you do in life?" he asks cheerfully, interestedly, and I nearly punch his lights out. "The last time I checked," I say, dryly, "I was still doing it." He's about 18, just entered college, determined to be a doctor some day. He's got a way to go on the bedside manner, but he means well. He'd crept into my [...]

Whippersnapper2020-10-06T16:28:11-07:00
30 03, 2017

The problem of Gina: What do you do when there’s nothing you can do?

2017-07-03T14:24:04-07:00

Gina* is a problem. Her suffering cries drive you to her side, anxious to save an aging damsel in distress. "Help me, please. The pain is so bad. It HURTS! Please, can't you give me something for the pain?  HELP! Is anyone listening?" Newbies at The Fortress immediately blame the caregivers, "Where the HELL are they? Why aren't they helping this lady?" And that's the problem: [...]

The problem of Gina: What do you do when there’s nothing you can do?2017-07-03T14:24:04-07:00
25 03, 2017

The Fortress

2017-07-03T14:24:06-07:00

"Well, hello there!" she beamed, "What are YOU doing back here?" I'm back at The Fortress, the rehab center where I spent the first six weeks or so of the fight to save Elmo. To be honest, I didn't expect to see this place again, but at the moment it's a welcome respite. And I gotta admit, it's a bit [...]

The Fortress2017-07-03T14:24:06-07:00
10 03, 2017

On the bone again…

2020-10-06T16:30:14-07:00

Oh....the footbone's connected to the anklebone The anklebone's connected to the shinbone The shinbone's connected to the Elmobone Now hear the word on The Void... After months of zoning out at the Deadbeat Cafe, The Leg has finally decided to go back to work. IOW, it's started to grow bone to fill in the walnut-sized void in my lower (distal) femur. [...]

On the bone again…2020-10-06T16:30:14-07:00
8 03, 2017

Moonlight at sunrise, with jitters

2020-10-06T19:11:17-07:00

Awake to my sister practicing the last movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor: Moonlight Sonata at sunrise. I smile and nod as Mom asks me if I've slept well, scent fresh-ground Sulawesi in the little one-cup coffeemaker Carol and Emelia gave me an age ago, and wonder: If I grab these moments really REALLY tight, plaster them against my heart [...]

Moonlight at sunrise, with jitters2020-10-06T19:11:17-07:00
2 03, 2017

The wheeled view

2020-10-06T19:15:59-07:00

I saw Marcus* out of the corner of my eye, stopped at the crossroads, obviously waiting for us. Kaitlyn and I were headed over to the cafeteria for lunch.** It's a bit of a long haul for me, since there's a steep incline on both ends of long, meandering sidewalk. I haven't been able to do it yet without needing a friendly [...]

The wheeled view2020-10-06T19:15:59-07:00
2 02, 2017

The art of frustration

2017-07-03T14:24:30-07:00

Necessity may give birth to invention, but the mother of art is frustration. If you want to build a strong vocabulary in an artistic medium, you must achieve frustration. Fail at it. Badly. Repeatedly. If my current frustration level with metal clay is any indication, I'm about to become the DaVinci of PMC.   Here's what I'm telling myself: This is [...]

The art of frustration2017-07-03T14:24:30-07:00
30 01, 2017

Elmo, Beorn, and the Ferengi’s ears

2020-10-06T19:23:15-07:00

If you're wondering what's up with The Leg: We're hanging in there. LOTS of other stuff has happened that'll show up here as I get time to write, but mostly? We're hanging in there. On Friday night, Sept. 16, 2016, I fractured my left femur just above Elmo, my replacement knee. I lived in a wheelchair, facing hip-high amputation of [...]

Elmo, Beorn, and the Ferengi’s ears2020-10-06T19:23:15-07:00
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