I went to the Common Ground Coffeehouse last night to see Joshua Garcia, Lisa Bastoni, and Vincent Cross. This was my first expedition to hear music since my surgery. My energy is still limited. I did not have the energy to write yesterday so I have to catch up on Friday too. My internal experiences are having a bigger influence on me till my body heals. It slows me down but it is grist for the writing mill. I’m not just healing; I’m observing myself healing.
Friday I had therapy. I knew that I would not feel up to going out afterward so I canceled my plan to see Joe Crookston afterward. I ended up taking things write to the limit by going food shopping; that required one extra bus ride. More importantly it required me carrying the groceries. I’m not supposed to lift anything heavy. I didn’t weigh it but I’m sure I bought less than 10 lbs of food. But I also had my bag and what I carry in it with me so I was near my limit. When I got on the bus to go home I pulled the “just out of the hospital card.” The bus was packed so I asked someone in the front, in the seats that say, “Please give your seat to the elderly or disabled” if I could sit. She didn’t look happy about it but she moved. Thank you, anonymous person. I know I don’t look particularly disabled. I did look disreputable. By then I hadn’t shaved in at least nine days. I have bruises along the veins of my arms as a result of an unskilled phlebotomist. I’m sure somebody thought I was an addict.
Not seeing Joe proved a good move. When I got home I pretty much collapsed for a few hours. If I had gone to the show I might have snored. I know my body well.
After resting up a day I felt up to going to Hastings for the concert. It was warm, 75°F. I had to dress for it. I wanted to wear the brand-new linen pants I had ordered online. The problem was I wanted to wear them the day before and couldn’t find them. Yesterday I found them underneath something else. I had never even tried them on and the surgery will change how things fit. Fortunately they fit well. I love wearing linen, the radiate comfort. I tried a new way of getting to the train station. It’s only one bus but requires walking a half a mile on either end.
I was up to that but needed the rest on the train. I fell asleep. When I arrived in in Hastings I was picked up by Sarah. This was my first time there since my eyes were fixed. Trying to find Sarah is usually an adventure. This time I saw her from across the length of the entire station. I love being able to see. That proved useful again as we Sarah pulled out. I saw Joshua! I shouted to him and asked him how he was getting to the Common Ground. He didn’t know. I told him to hop in the car. That proved fortunate for everyone. It’s a long walk, he’d have had to do that or call a taxi.
There was an advantage to being an invalid. I went into the green room, sat on one of the comfy couches, and couldn’t get myself to get up. I was capable and would have if necessary but as it was nobody objected to my staying. That meant I was privy to one of the great green room conversations. I love hearing musicians talk shop.
Carter tried something new this show, the artists performed in the round, Joshua, Lisa, and Vincent, in that order. While all solo singer/songwriters their songs and styles are quite different. Vincent played concertina and bouzouki, the others guitar. When Vincent took out the concertina I told Carter, that is not just older than Joshua, Joshua is young, but it’s older than we are. Turns out I was right, it’s my mother’s age, built in 1917. I like being right. I love hearing great music. I love hanging out with these people. It was a great night.
The show ended just as the train back to New York left so I had to wait almost an hour for the next one. After most of the breakdown I went back to the green room for the comfy couch. I usually work at making myself useful, not a week after surgery.
I was worried about being cold going home. The temperature dropped 16° during the show. Linen and sandals are not great for 59°. Good thing it wasn’t windy so I was fine. I took the train back to Marble Hill and did the two half mile walks with a bus ride in between. When I got home I had reached my limit. I got undressed and went straight to bed.
I was going to meet Becca and Billie for lunch today. They are in town from Baltimore to see Hadestown. Last night they went to First Acoustics in Brooklyn to see Scott Wolfson and Other Heroes. I wish I could have been in two places at once and that Brooklyn were closer to me. My guess is that I knew 20 people there, at least if you count the musicians. It’s in Brooklyn but very much a home game. As the night progressed I realized that there was no way I would feel up to getting out of the house the next day early enough to meet Becca and Billie. The way I determine these things is just visualizing what I need to do. The first time I went to text Becca about canceling I made the mistake of visualizing hanging out with them, not just the trip. That was so much fun that instead of canceling I suggested where to eat. A little while later I was even more tired and this time had the will power to cancel. I know I’d love seeing them but I have to listen to my body. Today is going to be a day off. I have to pick up meds at the pharmacy and I’ll take a walk to help with my healing, but that’s it.
Now it’s time to make and eat matzoh brei and do more all-important vegetating before taking my walk.
Wise Madness 