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LouisianaMan

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Hi,
My name is John - I was in electronics/computers for 16 years. I worked for several fairly large comupter corps - MicroData - the computer part of McDonnell Douglas. Then worked for several different corps as they bought each other out from 1990 - 99. I installed, and maintained the computers in 8 central Louisiana hospitals during that time. The last company I worked for doing that same job was Data General Corp. In April 1999 I fell 16' from a ladder, and landed on my left knee. It crushed my left hip, and that ended it. I have now gone back to my roots, and have re-embrassed my musical side. I've played Trumpet for over forty years. I joined the US Marine Band out of high school. I got married while in the service, and had our first of four kids. I got out of the Marine Corp in 76, and looked for work in the music field. I found a position in a newly forming orchestra in New Orleans. They lost their funding though so I was forced to put my horns down, and get a regular job. I ended up back in school, and became a computer systems engineer. The computer field paid for the shoes, and cloths, and food, and college tuition the family needed. I've always kept my trumpet, and played it for my own enjoyment through the years. All four kids are now grown, and my wife left so the only one I have to worry about now is myself, and the disability check I get helps out there. I'm determined to use whatever remaining years I have to see where my talent will take me. I greatly enjoy being a father, and enjoyed being a husband too. My job as the main bread winner is now completed though so I'm now free to turn back to my music, and see what I can do with my horns, and I'm very determined to do just that!
John
 
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Welcome to AK John, it's a great place to be! Good luck with your horn dude!
I'm looking forward to retiring from my PC tech job in about 7 years and want to go back to playing music. My guitars have probably been the most consistent thing in my life for the 55 years I've been on the planet!
 
Thanks; I wouldn't have chosen to do things the way life has thrown them at me, but since I find myself in this situation I'm embracing it, and plan to make the very best I can of it. To say that life has been hard since I crushed my hip from the fall off that ladder would be a Huge understatement, but I'm gonna let it go at that as explaining would make for to long an email. However; theres Always a Rainbow after every storm, and for me the Rainbow is my getting back into my music. Take Care, John
 
LouisianaMan said:
Thanks; I wouldn't have chosen to do things the way life has thrown them at me, but since I find myself in this situation I'm embracing it, and plan to make the very best I can of it. To say that life has been hard since I crushed my hip from the fall off that ladder would be a Huge understatement, but I'm gonna let it go at that as explaining would make for to long an email. However; theres Always a Rainbow after every storm, and for me the Rainbow is my getting back into my music. Take Care, John
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John,

Just do the best you can, with the circumstances before you. That's all any of us can do. Enjoy the tunes! :music:

I was in the Aggie Band (Texas A&M), straight out of HS about the same time you were in the Marine Band. It was one of the best experiences I had in life, and that was long ago. The 'rest of our lives' is looking ahead with the music, so enjoy the 'rest of your life', and the music that comes with that.

Danny
 
The Aggie Band has a long, and very great tradition. Many very fine musicians have graduated from there. I congratulate you for having been a member of such a great organization.
You're right; we can only do our best with the circumstances we find ourselves in. My Father-In-Law said it this way - "Ya do the best ya can with what ya got - that's all anyone can do." My Father-In-Law was a Very Fine man, and I miss his guidance very much - he past in 2000. He was the only man I ever knew that I chose to call Dad.
I am now charging forward as best I can with blinders on to hide myself from as much of the superfluous, extraneous, and all the other ous's(lol) out there that I can. I may end up having to move back to New Orleans where the most musical work is - time will tell. For now I'll spend my time getting my sight reading ability sharpened, and strengthen my chops. I'm enjoying being in the two bands I've joined very much. I need to extend my range as much as I can. I don't need to be another Maynard Ferguson, but the higher range stuff is used much more these days. I also have to strengthen my body after being stuck in bed for 9 years, because of my hip. I crushed it in 1999, and underwent an 11 1/2 hr surgery. Then the ball part of my hip joint died, and I lost 3" off my left leg. In 2001 the Doctors at Tulane Med Ctr said I had COPD, and I'd die on the table if they operated again. So I was stuck living with bad arthritis, and nerve pain, and having to take Methadone to get by. My wife left me in 2005, and I lived the next 3 years in almost total isolation. I couldn't walk much so I couldn't get out, and meet my neighbors so the only human I saw was one of my kids for a couple hrs one day a week, and when they brought me groceries. In Aug 2007 I went to the VA, and ask them to do the surgery even if it meant my life. I refused to live that way any longer. The surgery took place on May 3rd 2008. I'm now up, have joined two bands, and am living my life again. I have a ways to go to get all my strength back, but I am on my way at last - I've burst into the light at the end of the tunnel, and its warm, and glowing! Thanks for welcoming me. I'm glad to be here. - John
 
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