One Year Later
August 26, 2010
Yesterday was the first anniversary of the activation of my baha implant. I spent a good part of the day wandering alone along the paths of Prince William Forest Park. I wanted to be someplace where I could listen to the birds and think about both the last twelve months and years to come.
I didn’t do much pondering. The trails in the park were a lot more challenging than I was expecting and after tumbling down a surprisingly deep gully I decided that I had wasted enough time reflecting. I dusted myself off and went back home to Amy. We went down to the courthouse to get our marriage license. Later on we had a wonderful dinner and ordered the flowers for our wedding.
Right now I am sitting here in the dining room of my new home. The love of my life is working on wedding plans and singing to the radio. I can’t think of a time when I was ever quite this happy.
The writer in me would like to wrap this post up with some kind of corn-pone Zen koan that sums up the whole story. The writer in me wants to say something about happily ever-after. The only problem with that is that I can’t sum up a story that isn’t finished yet
So instead of a monologue I think I will simply stop writing, turn off the computer and give my fiancé a kiss. Before I go to bed I’ll say a prayer of thanks for the many blessings in my life. Tomorrow I’ll go to the office early and use my bionic ear to help people make music.
Life goes on.
Happily ever after.
Just in case you missed them:
- Limited edition print celebrating the first anniversary of Patrick’s BAHA activation. This is the modern miracle that restored his hearing.
http://dailyfrail.com/2010/08/06/first-anniversary-8252010/
- Summer tune up package – lots of useful accessories at a great price.
http://funkyseagull.com/tune-up.html
- August giveaway sale – free copy of “Outlaws and Scalawags” with your order.
http://dailyfrail.com/2010/08/02/august-giveaway-sale/
It has bees a crazy, busy and joyful Summer.
Me and Miss Trudy are looking forward to Patrick and Amy’s wedding.
The new Manassas studio is settling down and I should begin editing Patrick’s new book in the next couple of weeks.
If you need to contact Patrick concerning lessons, Manassas happenings or music in general you can call (410) 202-2324 or email ask.patrick@gmail.com
Peace to all,
Pat Costello (Dear Old Dad)
Another Baha story
August 18, 2010
Stephen in Memphis writes:
. . . wanted to let you know that your Baha activation video is what inspired me to pursue the baha. i’ve been deaf in my right ear for 20 years thanks to scarlett fever when i was 5. my surgery will be on tuesday august 31 at vanderbilt in nashville . . . i’ve watched most of your videos around the sugery and activation to see what you had to say about it. if it wasn’t for you, i would not have pursued and researched, and gotten to where i am now. i am so excited i can taste it.
I hope all of you will keep Stephen and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he embarks on this adventure.
The anniversary of my own Baha activation is just a week away!
First Anniversary 8/25/2010
August 6, 2010
On August 25th 2009 my Baha implant was activated.
Needless to say, being able to hear again has been an amazing experience. I am back in the world and in the past year I have fallen in love, published a new book and moved to Manassas, Virginia.
One of the amazing things about the Baha experience was the block print made by Carlos in Spain. Before the implant the only way I could “hear” my guitar was to keep my front teeth resting on the upper bout. I was in horrible pain and completely exhausted from trying to make music through the silence. Carlos managed to capture my situation in just a few lines.
There are still a few of the original prints left.
While supplies last we are making them available for $25.00
Click here to order.
In Kansas
July 8, 2010
The time zones are different in Kansas so my computer is telling me it’s one time and the clock o the wall says differently. That’s confusing. Being homesick for Amy enhances the jet-lag into an almost perfect storm of homesickness.
Tonight Carlos will be coming to town. Don and Paul will arrive after that and then it’ll be time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. I’ll still be missing Amy something fierce, but at least I’ll be busy.
The flight went well. A friend of Amy’s set things up so that we could take a tour of Dulles Airport. We got to visit with some of the fine men and women who work so hard to keep air traffic flowing smoothly. Amy and I even got to ride in the cab of a people mover!
When we were going through security a pilot stopped me, shook my hand and said, “Thanks for teaching me to play the banjo.”
Having Amy there for that was pretty cool.
As Dear Old Dad already told you, I have already managed to dunk my BAHA in my favorite beverage. I am sure that there will be a lot more misadventures to share with you before I head back to Manassas.
Today I have to set up some instruments and help Aaron & Barbra pick up some supplies for camp. I’m still recovering from surgery so I won’t be doing much, but I do want to stay a little busy while I wait for my fellow musicians to arrive.
-Patrick
Mister “Tea” (or) I pity the BAHA
July 8, 2010
Patrick has arrived safely in Kansas but not without some excitement.
It seems that he was enjoying a glass of Turkey Hill iced tea while talking to Amy on the phone. When the call was over he snatched his headphones and pulled them off.
The headphones had other ideas. The angle and positioning was just right for the contraption to catch the BAHA unit and pop it off the titanium post imbedded in his skull. That is not a pleasant sensation. It hurts a bit.
But wait, there’s more.
The BAHA unit ($5,000.00 worth of electronic wonder) went into a beautiful ballistic arc ending in a perfect swan dive right into the glass of iced tea.
When Patrick emailed this bit of travel trivia I just stared at the screen in disbelief.
This could only happen to Patrick. No one else on the face of God’s good earth could duplicate that stunt if they tried. His second BAHA unit is currently at the Johns Hopkins audiology center for adjustment and minor repair so he is without a backup. At this point there does not seem to be any serious damage. The unit was working as of last night and life goes on.
As Patrick was leaving without the second BAHA unit I commented that he was sort of like a one eyed man playing with a BB gun. No backup. No net. No parachute.
I am still chuckling at the thought of this event.
I would give anything to have been able to see it.
It brings to mind some of the fences Patrick and I have jumped over the years.
But that’s another story.
Please keep Patrick, Don, Paul and Carlos in your prayers as they bring the gift of music to the folks at Camp Adventure.
Peace to all,
Dear Old Dad over and out
Happy BAHA Day!
May 21, 2010
Exactly one year ago today I had the surgery to install my BAHA implant.
http://dailyfrail.com/2009/05/21/surgery-over-or-did-you-get-the-license-number-of-that-truck/
I don’t think there are words to express how much things have changed over the last year. I can hear music again! I can hear the birds! But best of all, I found Amy.
Thanks to Dan Harrison for the wonderful picture!
Carlos in Spain made a linoleum cut of me with my jaw against my Dobro (before the BAHA it was the only way I could play) and manually printed a limited edition of 135 original numbered and signed prints for us to sell and raise money to help with expenses associated with the BAHA implant surgery.
We still have a few prints left. This is a hand-cut linoleum block print. Carlos printed these himself and each print is signed and numbered by the artist. $45.00 each Click Here To Order!
Coincidentally, I found out yesterday that I need glasses. Heck, not just glasses but bifocals! Turns out my vision was getting almost as bad as my hearing. I wonder what being able to see will do to my photography!
Links:
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc363rpDVIE
- Boing Boing: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/16/open-source-banjo-ma.html
- The Bluegrass Blog: http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/patrick-costello-regains-hearing/
- Philadelphia City Paper: http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2009/08/31/my-near-deaf-youtube-guitar-teacher-can-hear-again/
UPDATE:
I spent this afternoon down at the docks listening to the water and the birds. It seemed like a nice way to celebrate.
Singing
May 11, 2010
Mitch writes:
Hey Patrick,
As you know I’ve been fighting the singing issue for a long time so today, with the motivation of the retreat, I was determined to get at least something out there. What I ended up with was a couple of rounds from Going Down The Road Feeling Bad. Basically no intro and no ending or even a complete song just a bit that didn’t have any glaring banjo playing errors or phones ringing in the background. It’s not much but I suppose have to start somewhere, thanks for your help. Remember you can always unplug the Baha if you need to.
http://tangiersound.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/goindowntheroad.mp3
Arthur McBride
March 3, 2010
Bentley and Jim write:
While spending time in the Bahamas, we participated with the Second Annual Beach Junk War. This is a contest to find junk washed ashore, and create something functional and interesting with the flotsam and jetsam. The only tools that are allowed are a knife, a scissors, and a saw. Although it was unexpected, our music video qualified, with the thought that the items we produced were “movie props,” and the video was part of the “presentation.” We took 3rd place.
Arthur McBride
G G C G
C C Am Am
G G C G
G G D7 D7
Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Mark now what followed and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning.
Now, for recreation, we went on a tramp
And we met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Vamp
And a little wee drummer who beat up the camp
With his Rowdy-Dow-Dow in the morning.
Excursion Around the Bay
January 6, 2010
Bentley writes:
Hello Crisfield! We’ve heard it’s cold up there… Winter in the Bahamas is still short sleeves…
Today’s sea song is a traditional one from the Canadian waters of Newfoundland. “Newfies” are a wonderful warm-hearted folk, with lots of music in their lives. This song speaks to traveling around Conception Bay, and the joys of the rough seas of the North Atlantic.
http://www.facebook.com/v/1217342827280 (had trouble uploading to YouTube, sorry.)
Excursion Around the Bay
[G]It was early Monday morning, and the [C]day be calm and [G]fine,
To the [D7]Harbour Grace excursion, with the [G]boys to [D7]have a [G]time;
And just before the sailor pulled the [C]gangway from the [G]pier,
[C]I saw some fella [G]haul me wife a[D7]board, as a volun[G]teer.
O Me, O My, I heard me poor wife cry,
O Me, O My, I think I’m gonna die;
O Me, O My, I heard me poor wife say,
I wish I’d never taken this excursion around the bay.
We had three hundred souls on board, oh what a splendid sight,
Matt Strong in regimentals, to make our spirits bright;
With meself being in the double, with the funny things they’d say,
And they’d choke themselves from laughing, when they see us in the bay.
Now, me wife she got no better, she turned a sickly green,
I gave her soap and candy, fat pork and kerosene;
Castor-oil and sugar of candy, I rubbed hair-oil on her face,
And they said she’d be a dandy, when she reaches Harbour Grace.
My wife she got no better, my wife, my darling dear,
The screeches from her throat, you could hear in Carbonear;
I searched every place in Harbour Grace, searched every store and shop,
To get her something for the cure, or take her to the hop.
Oh, she died below the Brandies, as we were coming back,
We buried her in the ocean, wrapped up in the Union Jack;
And now I am a single man, in search of a pretty face,
And the woman who says she’ll have me, then we’re off for Harbour Grace.
The daily frail is back for 2010 with a new twist.
We have decided to assign each day of the week a theme.
This will be carried over from week to week.
Here are the categories:
- Monday – frailing – bluegrass related licks and rhythms
- Tuesday – frailing – country blues including slide banjo
- Wednesday – frailing - anything goes (you know Patrick)
- Thursday – Dear Old Dad’s turn
- Friday – guitar – anything goes from the blues to the subway shuffle
Patrick is recovering quite well from the latest BAHA surgery.
He just handed me a whole bunch of editing.
We are on track to have “Songs For Sunday” at the printer this month.
But, as the man said about the best laid mice of plans and men…………..
More later.
Peace to all,
Pat Costello (Dear Old Dad)
looking back & looking ahead
December 31, 2009
I was doing the whole walk down memory lane the other day clicking through links regarding all of the stuff that happened to me in 2009. Braille-Friendly Tab, The Ukulele Project, The Folk Musicians Retreats, getting my hearing back with a Baha implant . . . the fact that the list could go on for several pages is a testament to just how wild the last twelve months have been.
Anyway, in my wanderings I wound up rereading a post on The Bluegrass Blog about the activation of my Baha implant and stumbled across an announcement about another musician in a similar situation.
David McLaughlin, who, among other things was the mandolin player for The Johnson Mountain Boys and the Lynn Morris Band, went deaf a few years ago and has finally found a specialized hearing aid that will help hims break through the silence.
The hearing aids in question are seriously expensive so Claire Lynch has started the David McLaughlin Benefit Fund to raise money to help cover the expenses. You can read all about it here: http://www.thebluegrassblog.com/david-mclaughlin%E2%80%99s-hearing-loss-how-you-can-help/
Reading the article, and then exchanging emails with David I couldn’t help but smile. It meant a lot for me to be able to chat with another deaf musician, but it means even more to see people swinging into action to help him just like you all stepped up to help me. How wonderful to realize that I wasn’t the only person experiencing miracles over the last year. How glorious to have my faith in the goodness of my fellow man reaffirmed. To me, this is the perfect way to end the year.
I can’t wait to take part in all of the wonderful things waiting for us over the next twelve months. Happy New Year everybody!
David McLaughlin Benefit Fund:
Donations can be sent via PayPal using the email address McLaughlinFund@gmail.com, or checks made out to David McLaughlin Benefit Fund can be sent to:
Jennifer Hardiman
805 E. College St.
Pulaski TN 38478 USA
The account is set up with SunTrust Bank, so you can also visit any Sun Trust branch and make a deposit to account number 1000105947542. You can also post questions to Jennifer Hardiman, Claire’s assistant, using the McLaughlinFund@gmail.com address.
a trip to Baltimore (or) adventures in BAHA land
December 31, 2009
We spent yesterday on the road and at Johns Hopkins. Doctor Niparko and his staff did a great job. The longer post has been installed amid (according to Patrick) much pulling, tugging and tapping). This should eliminate the skin growing and interfering with the BAHA plug. The rather large wound from last weeks surgery is healing nicely.
We anticipate being back to normalcy (work) next week.
The BAHA, Doctor Niparko, all of you and life in general have been a blessing to me during the past year. The fact that Patrick can actually hear and thus continue his musical life is proof that miracles can an do happen.
I wish you all happiness, prosperity and fellowship in the coming year.
Don’t forget those in need and please, please, please don’t step in anything soft.
Peace to all,
Pat Costello (Dear Old Dad)
Cool & Quiet
December 28, 2009
I can’t wear my Baha implant until the next procedure is finished so I can’t hear much of anything right now. Work on the book hasn’t been possible so I have been taking long walks down along the waterfront with my camera.
We were supposed to make the run to Baltimore tomorrow, but Dr. Niparko called today and rescheduled my appointment for Wednesday. Maybe tomorrow I’ll hike up the road and see if I can find where the blue herons are nesting.
Merry Christmas
December 24, 2009
Dear Old Dad and I had to get on the road at 3:30 AM this morning to get my appointment at Johns Hopkins today. It was nice seeing Dr. Niparko again, even if the visit did involve carving a honking huge hunk of skin off of the side of my head!
While I was getting carved up Dear Old Dad gave the kids in the waiting room harmonicas.
Anyway, to use the doctor’s terminology, they “aggressively cut” (aggressive and cut are two words that just don’t sound good together!) the skin around my Baha implant today. Near the end of the procedure they brought Dear Old Dad in and he was kind of freaked by all the blood . . . I’ll let him tell you all the rest of that story himself.
Next week I have to go back for some more work. In the meantime I can’t wear the sound processor so I will be almost completely deaf for at least a week.
In a funny way, it seems proper to end such a crazy year quietly. So much has happened over the course of 2009. Getting my hearing back, the folk musicians retreats, Somerset banjos, my girlfriend . . . I am grateful to have the time to reflect everything that has happened, but I am also using this time to plan for even bigger adventures in 2010.
Have a wonderful Christmas, everybody!
And now, let’s all kick back with the holiday classic, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians!
