Liza Constable

I suppose I should make it clear that I’m not sitting at home whining about Nat being off in the warm regions. I’m not. He came home, we did our gigs last in snowy cold Maine last weekend. Well, we would have done our gigs if I hadn’t scared the shit out of myself by falling on my left and dominant wrist (skating backwards on Center Pond, the ice is perfect, and I tripped over the chair). Guitarist John Cote filled in for me, and I rested my hand in a splint. I missed playing. Yes, I was jealous — had to work on positive thoughts, listening to how good they sounded without me.

It’s better now, and I’m out of the splint. I have a broken bone. I broke it back when I was just 20 in Kodiak, AK. Casted for 2 months. A bone graft at 30, ten years later. Casted. Nothing has worked, just like they all say, it’s a notoriously difficult bone to heal. So, I have just dealt with it for the past 15 years. Certain motions hurt. Twisting a screwdriver. Clearing brush all day. Yoga can be hard but good – has really helped with flexibility. Official name: Scaphoid non-union. Alright, so it’s time to take care of it. I think I’ll have to have a screw to hold it together or something, to keep it stable. Damn I don’t want to be out of a job for a few months. Need the dough. Need the sanity! But most of all I need my wrist to work smoothly for the next 60 years. I will see what the bone doctor says.

It was great in Maine. As usual. I love the feeling of the dances, the rabid happiness and exuberance. P and Z always seem to find someone to play with, Tristan was their jungle gym for a whole evening. Genevieve was their calm and cozy lap. We had an awesome pizza party at Jeff’s using his new outside pizza oven. And music. And fun with nat. I love how we can play and be ridiculous, even after all this time. And then make great music too.
The Belfast dance was big fun. I danced two, then remembered it didn’t feel good on my wrist even with a splint. Lots of good dancers, all ages. Chrissy Fowler has done a good job making that dance a happening thing.

So the real reason that I’m not whining, is that in 4 days we’re headed to southern regions for the rest of the month. Bahamas. Sailing. Kids out of school for 3 weeks, with a boatschool plan. Study fish, reefs, math (buying groceries). Bringing instruments, it’s the best way to meet people.
Here’s our marriage counseling advice: Take a vacation, and do what you have been wanting to do for the last 12 years of marriage. Just do it. It’s about the same cost as a few months of marriage counseling. We needed both last year, but this year — just the vacation. Whahoo! I will bring back picts.

Band notes:
Glen got a hair cut, no more Sir Lancelot. What is making him so damn happy?