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  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7669707/my-big-toe-spoke-to-me-and-i-listened-897a8e39-e95a-499b-8a94-d0dd2e6eaa08">My Big Toe Spoke To Me, And I Listened</a>&nbsp;<span class='reset-font'>&nbsp;<span class="podcast"><img src="//assets-app-production-pubnet.bndzgl.com/assets/usersites/podcast-ff0f451d9e650aa49c1c887f1b4eab6655e151de0aba4c11a992f6637163c058.png" /></span></span>
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  <div class="message"><p><span>I am thankful for my big toe. It sort of talks to me.</span></p><p><span>It doesn't really say much, but it still conveys an important and powerful message. It has a big black nail as a significant reminder of the crash which was five months ago. My toe reminds me of where I was and how I have recovered, and to be patient.</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/4fc18957ec4e25487973283724cb0acc353da682/original/img-8792.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="4032" width="3024" /><p><span>I have smashed a toe before, even broken one a couple times. I recall this is a painful experience, but I have absolutely no recollection of the pain that must have accompanied this injury. So what has happened in five months and why wouldn't I remember a sore toe?</span></p><p><span>Well, first lets get grounded in a little reality.</span></p><p><span>Just as a recap, in addition to a bruised toe, I also had a fracture on my right ankle that was relatively insignificant in the whole scheme of things. I had a half a dozen broken ribs and both lungs were collapsed. I was on a ventilator for a few days. I had four fractures in my pelvis, a broken sternum, clavicle, and collarbone. I also had a small brain bleed. </span><br> </p><p><span>So my big toe must have been drowned out in the chorus of pain, and the brain bleed was not significant at the time of the accident. Of course two months later, the hematoma wasn't absorbed, it shifted and required a craniotomy. (I might have aggravated that by trying to start a wood splitter. Oops!)</span><br> </p><p><span>The broken bones were all a collective agony especially the first couple of weeks in the hospital, first at the UH Level 1 Trauma Center, then a step down, and then a transfer to the Cleveland Clinic rehab facility. I spent nearly a month in the hospital.  . </span></p><p><span>I do have reasonably good core strength and when I was fortunate enough to get a nurse or aid that I could reason with, I could often plank my body up high enough to change sheets and that sort if thing. About two weeks into my stay, I had a couple of folks come in to check for bed sores and insisted that I roll over. Thus resulted in a massive wave of pain from all my broken bones. And in the rehab facility, they insisted that I go to group therapy sessions, which required a lot of sitting in chairs. This resulted in a tremendous about of shoulder pain, and I am convinced it was the break in my collarbone separating. My last two ex-rays show that that break is finally stitching up, but its way out of alignment. I attribute this to sitting upright too long.</span></p><p><span>And that, for the most part, was all of the pain I experienced from my broken bones, which appears to be  behind me. Now, let me tell about the real pain. </span></p><p><span>I have screwed myself up several times over the years, broke bones, partially torn tendons, had surgeries, a chainsaw accident, but I have never experienced the exquisite pain like that generated by this brachial plexus injury. </span></p><p><span>First off, it has varied wildly in feeling and intensity. Sometimes it could feel like a mass of needles being driven into my hand and fingers, or a spot of tingling pain that kept building until it evolved to a blinding ball of pain that would move through my arm and into my body. Occasionally, for a while I would have shooting pain that felt like it was beyond my fingers. Yep, outside of my body!</span></p><p><span>I am happy to say a great deal of that has subsided, and I am not experiencing waves of pain that literally made me fearful of falling. What I am now dealing is a low to mid grade constant pain that, for the most part, I can function with as I focus on continuing to regaining nerve function, joint movement and rebuild muscle. </span></p><p><span>I experienced a severe poly trauma and the nerve recovery is the slowest of all. Consequently this is a three way race with the recovery of nerve function, which is sophisticated and slow, over coming muscle loss, and after five months of inactivity, this is astounding. (I look at the base of my thumb and forearm and can see it), and then the issue of joint freeze. My left hand was as stiff as a plank, and my arm was virtually glued to my side when I left the hospital. Consequently, I have to free up my shoulder, fingers, thumb and hand. This hurts.</span></p><p><span>The physical and occupational therapist are focused on mobility and regaining strength. My job is to go through all of my exercises. The shoulder stuff hurts the most. Big muscles, big frozen and complicated joint, and big pain busting it loose. </span></p><p><span>The hand is another issue entirely. Its hard to move finger joints when there is no nerve command telling them to flex. So this requires manual manipulation. While  am doing my hand routines I have to mindfully pay attention to the nerve function. I am literally relearning how to move my fingers! This is wild. The results are so subtle, but there is measurable progress! </span></p><p><span>I am doing it!</span></p><p><span>So the big black bruise under my toenail is still there and it reminds me to be patient. If the recovery of smashed toe takes months, why the hell would I expect something as complicated as significant nerve trauma to be faster?</span></p><p><span>I can walk, and I am slowly getting to take reasonable rambles. I can talk and see, and I have read more books in the past few months than I have in years. I can feel, hear and I have listened to a lot of music. After four months, I am off of narcotic pain medicine, so I can drive. My appetite and stomach chemistry are getting back to normal and, I am slowly getting finger movement.    </span></p><p><span>Anyway you look at the course of events, it’s remarkable I am even typing this. I thought about offering grace at our Thanksgiving meal but I knew I would be overwhelmed with emotion. So many family, friends, medical professionals, musicians and my community have done so much. I am, and will be forever grateful.</span></p><p><span>My oldest daughter provided a simple and comprehensive offering before our meal.</span></p><p><span>My toe reminds me of where I was and how I have recovered, and to be patient. </span></p><p><span>What a great message.</span></p><p><span> </span></p><p><br> </p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2025-12-01T12:10:19-05:00" title="December 01, 2025 12:10">12/01/2025</span></p>

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  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7665390/no-oxycontin-blues-so-far">No Oxycontin Blues (so far)</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p> </p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/04f680bf94c2e29d21cef99fdd3e90af2c3cf7b5/original/img-8767.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="5712" width="4284" /><p><span>When I receive several emails over the course over a few days, asking how I’m doing I take that as a sign that I need to post an update.</span></p><p><span>Right now I’m sitting in my sunroom, enjoying a cup of coffee. My out-of-town guest, Martin Stansbury and Sarah McQuaid just left. We had a great visit and they got some stationary time upstairs to work on tour related logistics and communication. It’s been nice to have guests and experience another dimension of normality. I have enjoyed having Martin and Sarah here.</span></p><p><span>Sarah is a huge talent, and so is Martin in his own right. Martin was extensively involved in my last recording project. He also mastered Home Town Blues. Both very inspiring and compassionate souls. Check out Sarah’s web here:</span></p><p><span>https://sarahmcquaid.com/</span><br> </p><p><span>On the medical front, I got a Cortisone injection in my shoulder, which had profound effects. I immediately stopped taking my pain medicines and for the first time in four months I’m not on oxycodone. To pull a line from one of my favorite songwriters, Betty Soo, “back to the land of the living!“ </span></p><p><span>Hence the subject line of this blog post! I’ve been on oxycodone since June!</span><br> </p><p><span>I also met with a brachial specialist team at the clinic last week. They were surprised at the amount of mobility I had in my fingers, which trust me, is not much. Yet it was enough to give us all some things to talk about. For the first time the connection between muscle loss, nerve regeneration, or recovery, and joint flexibility resonated with me, and this is the race I am running. </span></p><p><span>I have experienced significant muscle loss and joint atrophy. As my nerves recover enough to send commands for muscles to move, the muscles have to have enough strength to overcome the stiffness in the joints. I am working on three fronts, nerve recovery, restoring joint flexibility, and regaining muscle integrity. </span></p><p><span>I am doing hand and arm therapy. However, when I got home from the visit with the brachial plexus team, I felt I needed to some finger exercises. I found some relatively light rubber bands and developed my own routine. The light rubber bands are helpful in illustrating the slightest movement, which provides posit</span></p><p><span>On the music front I am waking up with melodies in my head and a stirring feeling to catch them. I have really enjoyed the Bent String album. I got the files from Kevin Richards and had a marvelous time listening to them. Here is a link to a YouTube video of “Ghost Bikes”.</span></p><p><span>https://youtu.be/8h2ZhOFmRGM?si=7Qz3S2eFIIAhnhxp</span></p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2025-11-19T15:21:24-05:00" title="November 19, 2025 15:21">11/19/2025</span></p>

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  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7657919/heroes-of-conservation-7a76cf2b-1596-4a5a-a263-a284e07fdb67">Heroes of Conservation </a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p>I was honored to receive a heroes of conservation recognition From, the Friends of Geauga Park District. It was a real special experience to serve as the executive director of this park District. This was the job I took, resulting in the relocation of my family from Greene County to Northeastern Ohio. <br><br><span>Heroes of Conservation </span></p><p><span>11/02/25</span></p><p><span>You can never under estimate the influence your actions may have.</span></p><p><span>Although my father was an avid outdoors person, it never occurred to me to pursue a career in the conservation field until I took a summer job in 1976 at Bruckner Nature Center. This was between my 2nd and 3rd year of college.</span></p><p><span>I was literally hired to entertain migrant workers’ children. I made up my own nature programs and completely enjoyed the experience. When I went back to Miami, I changed my major to environmental studies.</span></p><p><span>My junior year I was doing an undergraduate research project on the Little Miami River and I made several contacts at the Green County Park system. This ultimately led to a full-time position in 1980.  </span></p><p><span>Greene County is just east of Dayton, famous for the Xenia tornado and claiming to be the Birthplace of Tecumseh. Ed Dressler was the director and was known for his grant-writing abilities. The agency ran on grants.</span></p><p><span>When Reagan took office in ‘81, he refused to release the grant funds approved by Congress. We had a 70% cut in our operating budget and I later swore I’d never work for an agency that did not have stable and adequate funding.</span><br> </p><p><span>I did learn a great deal while working there and I was constantly acquiring additional responsibilities and being reclassified. By the time I left, I was writing two or three land and water conservation fund grants a year, and soliciting contributions from philanthropic organizations as well as individuals. I was supervising all the natural area management, environmental education and interpretation, and park law enforcement.</span></p><p><span>However, we were still living grant to grant, and I was looking for another job.</span></p><p><span>Ed believed in me, and early on in my tenure, he started taking me to the park district directors’ meetings in Columbus. This experience was invaluable as I had the opportunity to meet all of the park district directors and learn about their philosophies and management styles. That’s where I met Don Meyer. </span></p><p><span>Don was an observant man of few words, but we had spoken on a couple of occasions.. Geauga Park District had a reputation as a conservation-first park district, with very few programs. They passed a new levy in 1986 and posted an opening for a deputy director in the winter of 1987. I applied and was interviewed by Don and the park board mid-April and subsequently offered the job.</span><br> </p><p><span>I arranged to drive up and spend the day with Don after I accepted the position. We toured the parks in his personal S-10 pickup truck. He had a park radio mounted in it, which was very unusual.</span><br> </p><p><span>He told me there was a problem with the Kelso Lake acquisition and subsequent LWCF reimbursement, and was hopeful that with my past experience and knowledge I could resolve the issue.</span></p><p><span>The Nature Conservancy had bought properties from three different landowners, and the park board bought them from TNC. After purchasing the properties, the park was planning on getting reimbursed from the grant. Unfortunately, TNC had negotiated a life estate on one of those properties, and this prevented the release of federal funds. </span></p><p><span>Don explained the situation to me, and I felt that I could resolve a portion of the problem very quickly. The remainder would involve a re negotiation with the landowner, Eric Wesgrin.</span></p><p><span>I didn’t know about the grant problem, but I had heard from a number of sources that the Museum of Natural History and TNC had very different opinions on the management of the lake’s water level and the subsequent effect on associated critical habitat.</span></p><p><span>Any successful management would involve the surrounding property owners, CMNH, the Horner family, represented by Fritz Neubauer, and the Akron watershed. </span></p><p><span>Don seemed very surprised to hear this, and he was focused on getting reimbursed. I told him I could resolve that, but I didn’t want to get caught in a dispute between TNC and the museum.</span></p><p><span>Don said I would need to work this out with the museum and TNC, and he also said I needed to develop my own relationship with Fritz Neubauer. He said that Fritz was a war hero, and in the minds of many people, a living legend. People either hated or loved him, and I would have to establish my own opinion. </span></p><p><span>We talked at length about park programming. He saw the potential for parks to be overused, destroying the very essence of why they were preserved. He clearly had mixed emotions about publicity and park visitation. He said it would be my challenge to deal with this and went on to drop a real bomb. He told me that he had terminal cancer and had a short time to live. I realized that Don had hired me to be his replacement.</span></p><p><span>It is about a 3 1/2-hour drive from Chardon to Beavercreek, and my head was spinning the entire way home.</span><br><span>I intend to start on July 1st, but Don died a few weeks after we toured the parks. I started as the acting director mid-June.</span></p><p><span>The only other staff person I had met besides Don was Nate Fink. He was a part-time naturalist who was incredibly eccentric and currently on leave.</span><br><span>Don told me Nate agonized over having too many people show up for nature walks. </span></p><p><span>Don had hired Heidi Curtin as a naturalist. Her vivacious personality and approach to programming were a sharp contrast to Nate. As Nate was transitioning out, Dan Best was hired.</span></p><p><span>On my first day, I found out there was a bid opening for the Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve at 2:00. I called a meeting with the department managers, Heidi, Tom Duval, and Nick Fischbach. </span></p><p><span>The park headquarters at that time was in a small house trailer on Robinson, which was a gravel road. My office was tiny, with barely room for a desk, chair, filing cabinets, and two folding chairs. We all crammed into this space, and when I rolled out the project maps, I realized Tom and Nick had never seen them. Heidi said she had not seen the finished detailed drawings.</span></p><p><span>The Best project had a few glitches, including hitting a pocket of quicksand. A large bulldozer was nearly buried. </span></p><p><span>During the construction project, I got a significant donation from Jerry Peterson. This consisted of a number of large pine trees, a planting crew, and the use of a giant tree spade. </span></p><p><span>Subsequently, Jerry and I established a good relationship. This paid off years later when I asked him to postpone his residential development around Spring Brook while I lined up the initial funds to purchase the stream-side property. He pulled his subdivision zoning request, and this gave the park district time to secure the funds to buy all of Bass Lake. </span></p><p><span>It was clear that Don held his cards close to his chest, and as I went through his files, I found detailed spreadsheets that had extensive records down to the amount of nails used to build the park outhouses. </span></p><p><span>He was also very frugal. Our maintenance folks did not have uniforms, and they split 14 cords of sugar house firewood by hand. When I found this out, I asked Tom if the crews used rocks to drive nails? </span></p><p><span>Don kept all his notes and records with a pencil on graph paper. Official minutes and correspondence were typed. The park system did not own a computer or printer. </span><br><span>It was really remarkable, and I addressed what I saw as a shortcomings.</span></p><p><span>It was clear to everyone that we had outgrown the house trailer. If Don hadn’t passed away, I don’t know where my office would have been. </span></p><p><span>There was, however, a concept plan for a new park headquarters, located off Ravenna Road near Tupelo Pond. The sketch drawings looked somewhat like a post office or an elementary school. I was appalled. </span><br><span>I expressed my opinion to the president of the board, Bob McCullough. I told him that we’re one of the largest park districts in the state, located in one of the wealthiest counties in Ohio, and we can’t build a park headquarters and visitor center that looks like a bunker. </span></p><p><span>I shared this sentiment with the other board members, Al Lang, who was a WWI vet and 90 years old, and Mark Sperry, who was in his 80s. I had to develop a slow, methodical approach to communicate with them.</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/08bfc2d5bd571f9b8a456acfc97b45906f6cd6dc/original/gpd.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_right border_" height="2550" /><p><span>One of my mentors, Joe Pavolonis, was the chief of engineering and design at Cleveland Metro Parks. Joe introduced me to Tony Paskevich, who had designed the Sanctuary Marsh visitor center at North Chagrin. Ultimately, the park board retained Tony to design the Donald W. Meyer Center. This was the first of many projects Tony and I worked on. </span></p><p><span>Going back to Kelso Lake, it was easy to modify the grant to get a partial reimbursement, which I did before the end of my first month. I started to renegotiate Eric Wesgrins’ life estate. This involved changing it from exclusive use of the lake and surrounding property to just two acres. In doing so, we were able to get the remaining grant money.</span></p><p><span>As this negotiation was underway, I began meeting with all the stakeholders to establish common ground for a management plan. I also invited representatives from ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. I felt that Kelso should be a dedicated state nature preserve, and ultimately, that dedication came to pass.</span><br><br><span>Holding individual stakeholder meetings, I took everyone out in a canoe to talk about managing the water level: Al Krieger represented Akron, Jim Bissell, the museum, and Jeff Knoop, TNC. Akron was ambivalent, but it was clear TNC and the Museum had differing opinions.</span></p><p><span>Fritz was the last stakeholder I met with. I wanted to have everyone on the same page if possible before meeting with Fritz. Bissell suggested that I bring a six-pack of beer when I met with Fritz, which was good advice.</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/9a468eac327f3a07f27e5ca28063585def7827cc/original/wetland-am-24.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_left border_" height="3024" /><p><span>Doug Horner set up a lunch meeting at the Hickory Lake Tavern for him, Fritz, and me. After this, Fritz toured me around his game farm. He told me about all of the wetlands he had created and how he went about building them. I found him to be engaging, with an innovative approach to wetland construction. He emulated beavers. While unorthodox, his approach was brilliant. He disturbed a minimal amount of soil, and this resulted in very few non-native species. </span></p><p> </p><p><span>I was at Geauga Park District for 18 months and 14 months into my tenure I found myself in an interesting position. Lake metroparks had hired a very dynamic director, Leon Younger. Leon had a national reputation as a creative and innovative leader. However, he knew absolutely nothing about natural resource management and did not understand the preservation ethic that existed for park districts in Ohio. He and I drove to a conference in Cincinnati and before we got to Columbus, he offered me a job. </span><br><span>I told him I did not want to leave my position, but as we spoke, his offer kept climbing until we were discussing the opportunity for a salary increase of 30 percent. With three young children, I had to take this seriously.</span><br><span>A few weeks later, I talked to Bob McCullough, and he said was “We knew we couldn’t keep you long”. </span></p><p><span>In the short time I was there, I felt that I had a significant impact on the Geauga Park District and in this time, I learned a great deal, including things that helped me through the rest of my career.</span></p><p><span>I met some wonderful people and made some great professional connections. Dan Best, Les Ober, Fritz and Tony Paskevich became lifelong friends. I was delighted to introduce Tony to the Park system as he designed several other GPD projects after I left. Tony and I also worked together on a several Lake Metroparks projects.</span></p><p><span>The insights I gained from Fritz’ paid huge dividends for wetland mitigation projects at Lake Metroparks, and on several private projects. Certainly this experience influenced my contribution to the biggest wetland project I was involved with, Howard Marsh. This was while I was working for Toledo Metroparks. At the time it was constructed, Howard Marsh was the largest wetland restoration project in the Great Lakes basin. It has received numerous awards merging wetland restoration, and nature study with passive recreation.</span><br> </p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/2163e8e9183899b2c10b55b027e71a4b730dd2f3/original/howard-marsh.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" height="2550" /><p><span>I have continued to enjoy the Geauga Park District since working there and have had the pleasure of being peripherally involved with a number of the parks’ projects. </span></p><p><span>Years ago I was so intrigued about this Park District located Ohio’s snowbelt. I consider it a true privilege to have worked for the agency and I am both proud and humbled with this recognition.</span></p><p><span>Good luck to you and continue to do great things.</span></p><p><br> </p></div>
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  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7655799/november-skies">November Skies</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/4e33159ac9b61aa295e974320ac6f87c363154ad/original/img-8729.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="4284" width="5712" /><p><span>I have a folder on my computer, called November songs. Late October and November have always been a melancholy time for me. Those feelings often manifest into story songs. I can’t help but wonder what will happen this year because I can’t play a guitar and often times the melody and the story come to me together at the same time. It will be interesting to find out if I have the will to capture any musical ideas using an alternative approach. I suppose we’ll find out.</span></p><p><span>This past October has been strikingly beautiful with a mix of incredibly blue skies and diverse clouds coming off the lake. What’s not to like about deeply textured skies over a landscape dotted with the subtle, yet colorful oak trees, and a few other species that are slow about letting go of their leaves. And these trees are surrounded by the stark bare limbs of those that have already shed. Yes, there is a lot going on in November. Orion is rising, deer are moving, steelhead are making their way up stream. There is change in the air.</span></p><p><span>It feels like I’m making progress. Albeit slowly.</span></p><p><span>I’m convalescing in the barn right now with my arm suspended by a rope in a pulley and piece of surgical tubing. My hand is in a medieval-looking, Velcro-lined glove that’s forcing my recalcitrant fingers to bend around a piece of foam pipe insulation. Modifications of my own design, I might add.</span></p><p><span>It’s nice to feel a bit of progress. I mean, I can move my arm enough to imagine holding a guitar neck, now I just have to get those fingers to work! They flutter a bit but they don’t have much strength and the flexors are still not really working, but it’s better than it was, trust me.</span></p><p><span>I occasionally swear a lot, not out of frustration, but pain. It doesn't happen too often but when it does, i can’t image what it would feel like if I was not taking narcotics? And I’m not a big fan of taking medication like this.</span></p><p> </p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/268f3db72ad039dc02e9ab2c8b5dd42a5512fe79/original/image.jpeg" class="size_s justify_inline border_" height="2016" /><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/a3aa6548ef824371eb7dc069f71ce7603b85ba29/original/image.jpeg" class="size_s justify_left border_" height="2016" /><p> </p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/c56a4404adf76fbc17bd0a1532ee67e501733d3c/original/image.jpeg" class="size_s justify_inline border_" height="2016" /><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/41edcb232c24f33959e2275bed400b66df59ad33/original/image.jpeg" class="size_s justify_inline border_" height="2016" /><p><span>I got my resonator guitar back from Ken Lesko. It had a broken neck and he fixed it for me. It’s remarkable. I spent the better part of an hour trying to Velcro a slide to my left hand, and while this might sound a little desperate, or maybe pathetic, the reality is two weeks ago I did not have enough movement in my left arm to even think about moving a slide on a guitar neck in any capacity! </span></p><p><span>So I do call this progress!</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/879eba2209bcfc5dda703af04f18a01ed8bb6ed8/original/img-8721.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="5712" width="4284" /><p><span>I’m continuing to write my monthly column for North Coast Voice and I’ve been doing record reviews my most recent being Bent String, which I might add an incredible record.</span></p><p><span>You can find these reviews on this website on the Songs From The Heartland page.</span></p><p><span>Thank you for the support and the concern. It means a great deal.</span></p><p>I’ll try to keep rambling on!</p><p><br> </p><p><br> </p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2025-10-29T11:58:36-04:00" title="October 29, 2025 11:58">10/29/2025</span></p>

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<h2 class="heading-secondary heading-blog alt-font">
  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7649513/jon-stein-is-featuring-me-on-hootennanny-cafe-october-25-a-recovery-update-and-i-sold-some-gear"> Jon Stein is featuring me on Hootennanny Café, October 25, a recovery update, and I sold some gear!</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p>My friend Jon Stein is featuring me on his radio show. Hootennanny Café. That will broadcast October 25.<span> More info to be found at:</span></p><p><span>https://talentconnections.com</span></p><p>Moving on to recovery, when I start getting multiple PMs a day inquiring about how I am doing, I know it’s time to post something. I’d like to thank everybody for their concern and well wishes, really quite overwhelming! My friend Alex tells me “Steve a lot of people love you,  just get over it and post something!”</p><p>After repeatedly being told that I’m looking at a six to eighteen month recovery, and being nearly fourteen weeks after the date of the accident, I know how my progress is moving. I’m no spring chicken! For the record, I can’t pick up a set of car keys with my left hand, nor can I lift my left arm past horizontal. And believe me, that takes some effort!</p><p>So I sold a bunch of PA gear.</p><p>If you want to read the whole post go to this link</p><p>Let me restate that I’m very very fortunate. I have an incredible medical team. This includes a great shoulder doc, an incredible hand and arm doc, a brilliant neurosurgeon, and now a highly regarded brachioplexus specialist has been added. These people are the best the Cleveland Clinic has to offer and believe me that’s saying something.</p><p>The occupational and physical therapist I have been going to are remarkable, but I did take a couple weeks off therapy after the craniotomy. I figured I deserved the break. We will resume all of the therapy sessions next week. My friend Kelli has left her massage table in my barn and kindly worked on me for several weeks, but I took a break from that too!</p><p>I have a few close friends that are helping with some errands and needs. My yard is being mowed by my brother-in-law, Norman, and brother-in-law Scott, cut the meadow. I got a tree crew lined up and scheduled to come to take down a bunch of dead and dying trees. Another buddy is coming to split  wood for the barn stove, blow leaves out of the gutter and that sort of thing.</p><p>I had a great visit from Dan and Faith, who were in Cleveland to play a Folk Net gig. They are delightful duo, and you can find out more about them on their website: https://www.danandfaith.com</p><p>Back to PA gear, I sold the best PA rig I’ve ever owned!</p><p>Let me start off by saying QSC makes fine gear. Even their entry level stuff is incredible. I opted for buying their CP8’s, four of them to be exact, and two of their K series 112 subs. That was the most flexible, and powerful rig that I’ve ever owned. The small speakers were only 22 pounds a piece and rated at 1000 Watts. The subs were a different animal. They were 2000 Watts each and significantly heavier, but still very manageable. I could use one 8 inch speaker for a small venue and upgrade as needed from there. With the full rig I had no problem with hosting a full acoustic band at a large party or small festival. To get a comparable sound back in the 70s or mid 80’s it would require a van load of equipment. The PA I just sold produced better sound and would fit in my Rav 4. The advances and audio gear are truly remarkable.</p><p>At the rate my recovery was going, I didn’t want to leave the powered speakers sitting in the barn over the winter. It’s clear that I would not be using them until next summer at the earliest, and that’s being optimistic. I really don’t know what this means for my performance schedule. I hope to continue to write songs and share them. I also hope to get back to recording, but I sincerely doubt I will resume the same performance schedule.</p><p>I have had some people ask me “are you giving up?”, and the answer is no. However, practically speaking, passing this gear on seemed like the prudent thing to do. I also enjoy knowing it’s all in good hands. It makes me a little melancholy, but I still have an electro voice evolve, 50, which is a very nice rig too!</p><p>My instruments on the other hand have safely migrated from their summer range to the winter range, thanks to the help and support of Matt Harmon. I was fortunate enough to enjoy play a few gigs with Matt before the crash. What a talented fellow, and simply a great guy!</p><p>I am going to miss jammin with John Barile and Dan Mills at the infamous Greenville Tavern. They are scheduled to play in November. I might stop by just to harass John.</p><p>This week I was supposed to be playing listening gigs in southern Ohio and southern Indiana. Oh well.</p><p>To stay musically, engaged, I created a page on my website; Songs From The Heartland. I’m posting reviews of record projects. My next one will be about the recent release made by the Bent String Band. From what I’ve heard so far, it’s incredible. They were at the benefit show at the Beachland Ballroom and simply wowed people, but then again, there was a whole lineup of wonderful musicians at night! </p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/cd4d04481ade0b7958d1699b5d1b6f25571bc679/original/madewell-trail-orange.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" height="200" /><p>Man, I am a lucky guy!</p><p>Thanks again for all the concern, and well wishes. I sincerely appreciate it.</p><p>Hope to see you on the trail!</p><p>Steve</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2025-10-15T16:47:30-04:00" title="October 15, 2025 16:47">10/15/2025</span></p>

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  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7642147/there-s-reason-to-believe-maybe-this-year-will-be-better-than-the-last">“there’s reason to believe   maybe this year will be better than the last…”</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p><strong>“there’s reason to believe</strong><span><strong> </strong></span></p><p><strong>maybe this year will be better than the last…”</strong></p><p><span>I always loved the guarded optimism of those words from the Counting Crows song Long December. I would like to believe I have reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last!</span></p><p><span>I have been on a different sort of Pedestrian Ramblings, not so much hiking trails, but following different pathways non the less. My convalescence is quite consuming, and in an unusual way, timely. You can read about my progress on my website, madewellmusic. </span></p><p><span>In my efforts to keep musically engaged, I have started to write reviews of folk recordings made by artists from Ohio and surrounding states. Charlie Mosbrook and his record, It Is Time was my most recent review.</span></p><p><span>Fall color is just beginning to lite up the trees and when I stepped out on the patio this morning, the pleasant recollection of some video sessions came back to me. I couldn’t help but reflect on the events over the last year. I felt inspired to share something that had nothing to do with my current medical condition and rehabilitation.</span></p><p><span>It was just about a year ago that Mark Dershaw, Jono Yowell and I were discussing how to book more festival gigs in 2025. My limited festival contacts were as a solo folk performer, and all of Jono’s contacts in the festival circuits are associated in music genres that we really didn’t play. I figured we needed some promo material, and we didn’t have a professional grade recording of our trio, an agent, or manager. We were looking at a DIY proposition and i felt we specifically needed some video. Mark has some editing chops but he would be heading out west for the winter, so we had a limited amount of time to try to get some material together.</span></p><p><span>It was an interesting set of circumstances how the three of us came to be working together. A few years ago, I enjoyed a “reunion gig” of the old Steve Madewell Band. This was the last, and the best band I worked with before I left Dayton in the mid 1980’s to be the director of the Geauga Park District. It was a bitter sweet situation. We really loved each other, and had a remarkable five piece band, but I could not turn down the job opportunity.</span><br> </p><p><span>After the Covid isolation was lifted, that group got together and had a marvelous time playing for a full house at the Trolley Stop, which resulted in booking a half dozen gigs across Ohio. Unfortunately, my long time musical partner, Vance Wissinger, bass player extraordinaire, had a brain bleed the week after our first spinoff gig in February. Unfortunately, Vance was in for a long recovery, and with five more shows on the books, I was hustling for a replacement. </span></p><p><span>I had seen Jon-o Yowell play a few times and after some serious cajoling, he ultimately agreed to cover the remaining Steve Madewell Band gigs, provided he was available and a better offer didn’t turn up. I knew he was a good musician, but I soon came to realize he’s really an incredible talent, and all he has to do to pick up another gig was say “yes”. I was fretting the entire time about him getting a better offer, and after all, I’m an old dude who likes to play my original songs!</span></p><p><span>We did our additional Steve Madewell Band gigs, making appearances at Driftwood Point,The Old Firehouse, a community event, and two shows at the Yankee Peddler. We had a great time, but the geographic distance was quite a challenge. </span></p><p><span>However, the idea of playing with a group was really intriguing and I happened to have an inquiry about performing at a local barn party, and the host ask if I could bring an ensemble. I invited a couple really top local players, Paul Kovac and Bill Lestock, to join Jon-o and I for that show. We had a wonderful time which resulted in another spin off side project, the Big Creek Bangers! Without much difficulty, we picked up another half dozen gigs. </span></p><p><span>Unfortunately, Bill had some unexpected challenges and Mark Dershaw stepped in to fill the void. Mark is an excellent pedal steel player and we had done a few gigs together decades ago. He had been playing with a local group, the Woodpeckers, and stepped away to pursue an opportunity with the Akron based Shootouts. Unfortunately, that never came to be. </span></p><p><span>Long story short, the Bangers had a good 12 month run, which provided a great opportunity for Jono, Mark and I to establish a good musical bond. We felt it was strong enough for us to consider exploring festivals as a trio, or at least using our trio as a foundation to build from. We decided if we were going to make a pitch for festival gigs we needed to make a few videos.</span><br> </p><p><span>The first session was shot on my patio in the early fall of 2024. We used three Zoom HQ2 stationary cameras  supplemented with “B role” taken with a iPhone. Deb, Nicole, Mark and Jono’s partners, helped, along with Jono’s friend Justin. I was told that I need to stop moving around so much, and to keep me in one spot, Deb put a left down and told me to stand on it! That provided a great deal of entertainment because I don’t stand still when i am playing!</span><br> </p><p><span>We had a great time and got three songs down, In The Blink Of An Eye, Rivers And Trails, and, I Can’t Get You Off Of My Mind. Mark edited the tunes, and I sequentially dropped them on YouTube. The first one, In The Blink Of An Eye, got 100 views a day for the first week, which isn't that bad for a couple old dudes and a large upright bass player! And just to be clear, an upright base is a large instrument, but Jon-o is a pretty large guy too.</span></p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/_khqS9Pnmzg?feature=shared"><u>https://youtu.be/_khqS9Pnmzg?feature=shared</u></a></p><p><span>It is unclear if I’ll be able to perform again and if I do, I will certainly have to relearn how to play guitar again. But what memories i have acquired! It was such a pleasure and privilege to play with Jon-o and Mark, and regardless of the outcome, I will treasure the recollections of performing and sharing the music that we made together.</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/77e65fcb06b9d7f0f092a97dea675fbd09a071eb/original/c0109t01-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="720" width="1280" /><p><span>Hey, I hope to see you you out shuffling around!</span></p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2025-09-30T22:48:37-04:00" title="September 30, 2025 22:48">09/30/2025</span></p>

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  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7642375/i-had-brain-surgery">I had Brain Surgery </a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p><span>You know, last week I was thinking I ought to post an update on my recovery. When I start getting emails and messages about how I am doing, I know it’s time. </span></p><p><span>Besides the uncomfortable nature of physical and occupational therapy, up nail last week, things were going quite swimmingly!</span><br><br><span>Well, Here are four words I never expected to say; </span></p><p><span>I had brain surgery!</span></p><p><span>Yep, after a x-ray, a doctor’s appointment, and right before an arm therapy session, I had a moment where I could not speak.</span></p><p><span>Now, my darling wife, who’s put up with me for several decades, generally has no trouble understanding in-complete sentences, partial words, and nonverbal communication. She understood completely what I was trying to communicate and it wasn’t until I was able to, with great difficulty, utter “I’m having an episode”, that she realized I wasn’t just being peculiar!</span></p><p><span>Without growing into great detail, I was able to say things aren’t quite right and we called my general practitioner. Of course his schedule was jammed up, but his office manager Tammy, suggested we go directly to the emergency room.</span></p><p><span>Of course, since we were already at the arm therapy session, I went ahead and subjected myself to that trauma before heading down to one of the Cleveland Clinics emergency facilities.</span></p><p><span>That team whisked me off to a cat scan and told me that it appeared I had some complications from my June 22nd accident and that I was going to be transported to the main campus via helicopter. I really wasn’t too happy about that because I just had taken a helicopter ride in June, and with insurance being what it is, I did not look forward to having an arguments with some unknown, nameless, person at the end of the year trying to collect tens of thousands of dollars from me, but they were persistent, and told me the helicopter was already in flight.</span></p><p><span>I can tell you the new helicopters that the clinic just bought this year are really snappy. The flight crew look like something you might expect to encounter on extraction mission in some foreign country. I was predominantly communicating with a bad ass lady whose name was Shay, and we mostly were doing the cool thumbs up and thumbs downs signals for how I felt. It was a great smooth ride and no time at all, I was being wheeled out of the back of the helicopter, across the roof of the clinic and into a neurosurgery ICU.</span></p><p><span>Everybody kept asking me where I was at, the date, and what were we doing? I mean, like six or seven times! Being the smart ass that I am, I started saying things like we were in Nova Scotia, and it was always sunny in Cleveland. In spite of my own sense of entertainment, these folks did not see any humor in my response.</span></p><p><span>It didn’t take long for things to get real interesting. The first IV was un-eventful, but establishing an arterial line was a whole different matter. There was quite a mess. In addition to the repeated questions about where I was, the year and what we were doing, I heard the mention of a familiar name, and I realized I knew the surgeon who was taking me under his care, it also became apparent that I was going to have brain surgery.</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/3eaeea8baeded0ad1f56877774dcbccdcf43c04e/original/img-3689.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="4032" width="3024" /><p><span>Well, we can skip over a lot of the details but I hope you find a few things entertaining. First off, I had 34 wires superglued to my scalp, and upon inquiry, I found they would be removed the following day with acetone. I smelled like a body shop.</span></p><p><span>As it turned out, the lady gluing the wires was part of a team monitoring a computer lab hooked up to over 200 other patients.</span><br> </p><p><span>Could the Cleveland Clinic be behind AI?</span></p><p><br><span>I also learned that my veins don’t like to surrender their precious cargo. I was one for five on the second IV, and the Clinic has a two IV protocol for ICU patients. This got much worse as my stay continued ultimately resulting in a 3 out of 13 return.</span></p><p><span>I won’t bore you with anymore details, however funny I found them to be, other than the surgery was a success and I was dismissed on Monday. </span></p><p><span>Tuesday morning I felt fantastic, in-spite of my left arm and hand not working due to the brachial plexus issue. Being the moderate individual I am, I completely overdid it.</span></p><p><span>When I say I overdid it, I mean I start having “gee I better start saying goodbye to people” feelings. But hey, I’m a storyteller and song writer and prone to a little hyperbole.</span></p><p><span>I am doing ok, resting in a little old man recliner, and being thankful for all the loving friends and family I have.</span></p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2025-09-30T22:34:23-04:00" title="September 30, 2025 22:34">09/30/2025</span></p>

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  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7626287/late-august-update-from-a-recliner-with-a-view-03e69950-2116-4ec2-9e0d-39ee76024d28">Late August Update from a recliner with a view</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p><span>When I get several emails or messages asking me, “ How are you doing?”, I realize that it’s probably time to do some sort of update.</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/91a247a51c8b264480e1f76cb26480fe6daddcd8/original/img-0600.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="3024" width="4032" /><p><span>Here we have a current status report.</span></p><p><span>First, to add to the indignation of my compromised state, I have had a face-to-face encounter with one of my favorite issues, tariffs. A while ago, I ordered a piece of audio equipment from the UK that I was quite excited about. A Brennan B3+, which is a self contained music player and audio storage device.  It has features that I haven’t seen on anything available in the US. Long story short, with the uncertainty of the effects of tariffs, shipping is on hold.</span></p><p><span> </span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/6cdbf52f58d2f7dcd396e1d6823e05399ee8014e/original/img-0602.webp/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_inline border_" height="400" width="600" /><p><span>Beyond that, with one major exception, my recovery process is moving right along. All of my fractures are on the mend, ribs, pelvic area, clavicle, sternum, and shoulder blade are all healing up.</span></p><p><span>Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of brachial plexus trauma, and the early nerve tests came back non-responsive. I’ve got one doctor who’s just flat out telling me I will never play guitar to the same level I used to. However, I’ve got an arm and hand specialist, who is saying it’s entirely too early to make a statement like that.</span></p><p><span>I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that they’re both right.</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/f3bf757303a0ed8a1159e91db00fc05377a3001d/original/img-8516.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_inline border_" height="4032" /><p><span>Regardless of my recovery, a significant period of time has passed. For the first time in 57 years, I have no calluses on my left fingers. That's kind of a trip. Should I get 100% of my dexterity back in my left hand, I’m going to have to retrain myself how to play guitar. And, if I don’t recover completely, I’ll have to develop new and different approaches for playing guitar. Whatever the outcome, it’s going to take a long time.</span></p><p><span>I have a number of doable projects that should help keep me engaged. I am in the process of reconfiguring the recording components in the barn. I just started that deconstruction when I had the accident. So I can resume the re-assembly with one arm and hopefully get an idea of how this is all is gonna work.</span></p><p><span>I am also planning to review some recording projects.</span></p><p><span>Songs from the Heartland is a pretty snappy slogan that I should put to use, so I’m gonna.</span></p><p><span>You can look for that page on my website!</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/520a406d881b6d578dbd23fc542397d4850fe687/original/brand-image.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" height="569" /></div>
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  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7623702/flowers">Flowers</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p><span>Since June, everything here at the Creek House has been in a different gear. Hard to say that things have slowed down, in some instances, they have stopped. With other regards, life is moving as fast as ever.</span></p><p><span>I got a few lines in a song that sums things up: </span><i>“Always got too much going on. I’ve left a trail of things that are half done.”</i></p><p><span>It feels like there are too many things half done, and in a different circumstance I would be dangerously close to having a major eruption of activity. I’m not going to say if such behavior in the past has been productive, but it has been my MO, up ‘til now.</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/455e941bd89ef6f6872ca92942116658ccfb177b/original/img-6242.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" height="4032" /><p><span>The Creek House has a lot of upkeep and overhead… grounds, yard, sanitary and water systems. Add my foolish tinkering to those responsibilities and I am clearly treading water in the deep end of the pool. And then came the accident. </span></p><p><span>Suddenly MJ was put in the position of taking care of me in addition to dealing with her share of domestic bliss, and all of the basic challenges of living in this location. And her signature is on so many of the lovely features around the yard and in the house, in particular, the flower beds. </span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/c6f7cfced958a5f2dbacf870ed402fa9e7842a19/original/img-4348.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_s justify_center border_" height="4032" /><p><span>The Creek House enjoys some remarkable natural features: the creek, shale cliffs, giant trees, all of the natural amenities associated with being in the valley. Consequently, the scale is big, and its taken a long time for MJ’s landscape efforts to “grow” to the appropriate level. But they have. </span><br> </p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/30661018fcf6ab47335e51e3c1c555a174da3849/original/img-4099.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="4032" /><p><span>Ask any Ohio gardener what will happen if you walk away in June and July?  “Weeds” could be the one word response. So my little auto mishap couldn’t have came at a more in-opportune time from a gardening and grounds perspective. </span></p><p><span>Thankfully, brother in law, Norm took on lawn mowing, leaving MJ to battle on with the weeds in the flowerbeds. And battle on she has. Last week she summoned me and the tractor to move a few “weed piles”. Yes, the weed piles were of end-loader bucket scale!</span></p><p><span>Getting on the tractor used a few muscles I have thought about in awhile. I climbed on and thought I might just roll right off the other side.</span></p><p><span>In the midst of doing this battle, she some how found the time and energy to plant some additional flowers. This course of action begs the question, in such a challenging time, why would someone plant flowers?</span></p><p><span>Maybe they are a sign of hope, or may be they are simply an addition of beauty and color in an otherwise grey period of time.</span></p><p><span>Whatever the case, they are pretty!</span></p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/9d0d99add74a98b9c18cef995c94d7e61220c04b/original/img-8509.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="4284" width="5712" /><p><br><span>So as I sit here in a state where I  convince myself that being largely sedentary is the appropriate course of action, I can at least enjoy a new little spot of color.</span></p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2025-08-24T21:11:28-04:00" title="August 24, 2025 21:11">08/24/2025</span></p>

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<h2 class="heading-secondary heading-blog alt-font">
  <a href="/pedestrian-ramblings/blog/7621408/why-we-write-songs-open-doors-and-do-nice-things">Why we write songs, open doors and do nice things.</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/392484/3c64debe6ab4d319cca59842642041b86c75eb52/original/img-2390.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" height="298" width="550" /><p><br>As a result of the accident, I had to cancel all on my scheduled performances.You see, I have this little issue with my left arm that is prohibiting me from playing guitar.</p><p>Hopefully this will resolve, but I’m afraid it’s gonna take some time.</p><p>Many of you know that in addition to performing locally, I travel, especially if there is an opportunity to play for an audience in a “listening” venue. These performances can be incredibly rewarding, and often result in making wonderful connections. Due to this accident, I had to back out of shows across Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. </p><p>With as much traveling as I do, it is sort of ironic that my crash occurred about five miles away from home!</p><p>I was in the hospital for three and a half weeks, with plenty of time to think about what might happen next. Ideally, the mobility and dexterity will return to my left hand, but even so, I will certainly have to “relearn” how to play guitar. Maybe I will be limited in what I can do, or perhaps I will discover a new approach. Time will tell.</p><p>I’ve enjoyed some wonderful experiences performing as a solo artist, but also with dozens of and dozens of bands. And while I cherish these, sometimes wild and crazy memories, they simply do not compare to some of the heartfelt messages inspired by the lyrics of my songs. </p><p>I received this text the day after I got out of the hospital from an old college friend Andy. He is a bit of a free spirit and has some remarkable life experiences, including a long stay in Antarctica. When he sent the following text, he had no idea I had been injured, but it couldn’t have come at a better time.</p><p><i>Apologies for late night txt. Hwvr have to write this down before I forget it. This is all TRUE!! I’m on the final leg of long long straight through road trip back to Columbus. A bunch of hours ago I picked up an old hitchhiker in the middle of ‘real nowhere’ aside the road in western Kansas. I had many amazing hitchhiking adventures years ago, so I always pick up hitchhikers, especially those who clearly need a ride, and besides, the temp was near 100. His face was truly worn and deeply weathered, body frail and tattered. I gave him a sandwich and bottle of water. I think he finished in one long swallow. I opened the little cooler and he took another. He did not utter a single word for over two hours. We listened to music, after a while we listened to Pat Metheny’s ‘Missouri Sky’ while watching massive Missouri prairie storm far off to the north brightly flash away. Immediately after that album your song “I just don’t want to work hard anymore”came through my iPhone rotation. After the song ended, I jumped a bit, as he spoke for the first time since getting in. “Really like that song” he said. I asked him if he wanted to hear it again. He said yes. After your song ended the second time he turned the music volume down and then came the flood. Without any prompting, he spoke a line of clearly true, relatable, and heartbreaking life stories that just seemed to gently flow out of him. For the next several hours I was blinded by the power of his eloquent words and depth of emotions that tore through my heart and soul. (Still doing so) I drove him all the way to his front door. It was in a severely impoverished black neighborhood in a very tough part of St Louis. He didn’t say “thank you” nor did he need to, he just looked me in the eye, and gave me a clear formal nod. Just like in my old Navy days. </i><br> </p><p><i>I’m now just outside of Indianapolis with </i><span style="color:currentcolor;"><i><span dir="ltr">3-4 hours</span></i></span><i> more to go. I stoped the music after I dropped him off as his stories have not yet released the reins of my emotions. So, I just wanted to share this moment with you, about how powerful and important a single song (your song) can be to a single man. And how truly devastating (in a most positive humanitarian way) sharing a personal story can be. Ergo, I felt the urgent need to tell you. And another urgent need to Thank You, as you, and your song, made this long trip’s power and gratitude possible. If I told you this later, it would seem unbelievable. I still can’t believe it, even just lived it. I’m now both physically and emotionally exhausted, yet have enough adrenaline and coffee to get home by sunrise. </i></p><p><i>Humbled, </i></p><p><i>Andy Cameron</i></p><p>As I ponder what might be in store for me, Andy’s text could not have come at a better time. Whatever lies ahead, I hope I can continue to find the words and emotions that make these connections.  </p><p>If I see you on the trail, I might have a cane.</p><p>Steve</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2025-08-19T16:56:10-04:00" title="August 19, 2025 16:56">08/19/2025</span></p>

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