Been away for awhile.

[Estanislao]

I am going to expand a bit on a comment I made a little while ago in another post.

Rheumatoid Arthritis runs among the males in my family. Almost every male in my father's line, with a very few exceptions, ends up crippled by it by the time they are my age. My father is one such example, and I thought I might turn out to be another as I made it in to my forties wiht no sign of any problem. Unfortunately, I was to find out the hard way that rheumatoid arthritis can strike other body parts instead. In my case it turned out to be my eyes.

So, about eight years or so ago I had my first attack, which involved both eyes and was a nasty shock since the uvelitis it causes is extremely painful and debilitating. It also results in blindness durinbg the event, even if only one eye becomes inflammed, as often happens in the follow-up attacks which occur periodically. The last three years I was relatively attack free thanks to some immunal-suppresent treatment I was getting.

But around the first of April a real monster of an attack began. And I've spent the last month, including my birthday, exploring pain and blindness quite intimately. Needless to say that brought a halt to my online activities! I seem to be getting better now, though my eyesight is still quite dicey, so I beg everybody's patience if my spelling gets really atrocious, or I misread another's comment and end up making a post which seems to come way out of left field or something like that.

As I mentioned in my other post, I didn't let the blindness and pain stop me from practicing with my guitar, though I did have to limit my place to those excersizes I've memorized and knew well. I was quite pleased with the results. After stumbling a bit around the fingerboard, I began to get the placement of the notes right and later on in the month had few mistakes. As my condition improved and my sight has begun returning I've found it much easier to play things which I'd had some difficulty with in the past.

It reminded me of a story I heard while I practiced the martial arts as a youth about a master who had a regular habit of going into his garage and turning out the lights to practice his techniques, even with sharp and dangerous weapons. The man swore by it, even with the dangers involved. He said that practicing blind made his techniques better.

[Payul]

Hi Estanislao,

Glad you are back again.....It is with a sad post, I admire you for your endurance.
Playing without using your eyes is good possible.
Your story reminds me of training secretly with nutchaku,s ( fighting sticks with a chain in between) When I was a boy. My father wouldnot allow it, so I trained it with the lights off in my bedroom.......Hit myself a thousands time at the back of my head....

Hope your illness does never have effect on your spirit, try to keep playing...
Payul

[Black Sheep]

I'm reading 'Musicophilia' by Oliver Sacks at the moment. It is well worth the read for a muscician to discover the effect of music on the brain. Estanislao, there are many examples of the effect of sight and music working together and indeed, against each other in this book. One great examples of people who appreciation and abilities in music increase as their site failled. Even one facinating story about smeone who was blind with perfect pitch. When their eyesight was restored they lost the ability to pick musical pitch perfectly.
Be strong. Music is a great escape from pain. Good luck. Our thoughts are with you for a full recovery...

[falseta]

Originally Posted by Estanislao

It reminded me of a story I heard while I practiced the martial arts as a youth about a master who had a regular habit of going into his garage and turning out the lights to practice his techniques, even with sharp and dangerous weapons. The man swore by it, even with the dangers involved. He said that practicing blind made his techniques better.

Great to have you back! I practice blindfolded in the dark all the time, doesnt everyone?

Originally Posted by Payul

Your story reminds me of training secretly with nutchaku,s ( fighting sticks with a chain in between) When I was a boy. My father wouldnot allow it, so I trained it with the lights off in my bedroom.......Hit myself a thousands time at the back of my head....

Payul you made me laugh out loud with this one... I am glad to hear I am not the only one who whacked himself in the back of the head as a kid trying to be Bruce Lee...