Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi,

I have been offline for most of this year after having a series of heart attacks and subsequent strokes which ranged from mild to severe but I am doing much better.

The only lasting affect is a 20-25 percent loss of strength and diminished feeling on my left side and some memory gaps. I could have been much worse off and am thankful for that. I have been away from OLF since January but have not forgotten everyone. I am glad that people like David LaPlante and Waddy have been around to continue discussing building classical guitars which are my passion. I only recently saw the thread about David's Cardboard Torres and thought it was fantastic.

Instead of one big health event to recover from mine was a series of events so that just as I would be myself again to get back online, I would go through another round of health issues and each time would have to struggle to walk again, talk without stumbling and general get back up to speed.

I was upset to miss the GAL conference and keep up with what people were doing on OLF. If I had been healthy I had hoped to arrange a concert series for Carles Trepat, an amazing classical guitarist I met through the Romanillos workshop but it will have to wait till next year. I had been trying to buy a building in Spain that will be a Spanish Guitar Museum which has long been a dream of Jose Romanillos. I will continue to pursue this now that I am back in the saddle.

Needless to say I have not spent much time in the shop building guitars this year. At best I can do about 30 minutes at a time as I still am trying to rebuild my strength without stressing my body much. What I have worked on is building rosette tiles as I can do this is small sessions which eventually turn into full rosettes.

Because I am 50, I am still too young to retire so I need to keep working. Fortunately I work for Microsoft who pays 100 percent of all health related costs and was very understanding during the entire time I was recovering. I have been working full time again for a while but by the time I would get home each day I would have no strength left and would have no choice but to crash to rebuild my strength for the next day. Because of the weakness on my left side, even typing to respond to email was really tough.

In the middle of it I got a few much needed and encouraging emails from Don Williams that were a real shot in the arm. Recently Waddy sent email asking how I was. I really appreciate their kindness.

I only mention me and my health because people have asked and that I can now start to be a more active voice in OLF. I am in general a private and shy person but usually have something to say on things I know about or care about. I am thankful for what Lance and Brock have built in OLF and look forward to talking more with all of you in the future.

Thanks,
Shawn

Shawn I don't know you....but It's always good to hear somone 'made it'. Glad you are better. When I was younger I might not have made a post like this...but I ain't younger anymore.

Again...good to hear you pulled thru.

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Welcome back Shawn and here's to your continued and full recovery!

It's great to hear you are fully recovering Shawn!
Welcome back!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Welcome back, Shawn.

Stay happy and healthy!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Man, am I glad to see you post again. I'm so sorry to hear of your health problems. I know this sounds cliche, but if there is anything I can do, or any of us, I'm sure you will get the support needed. Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. Keep your mouse hand working, and keep checking in here. While we are still a minority, the classical community here is strong. There are enough of us to keep it flowing, but your input is highly valued with all of us. I look forward to the return of your strength, so you can return to the shop, and resume your informative posts on classical construction.

Also, good luck on the pursuit of the facility to house a museum for the Spanish Guitar. What a great goal to have.

I look forward to your continued posts.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Man I'm glad you're back, there's too few Norwegians here in the first place! I hope your road back to full recovery won't be a 'long and winding' one; god bedring, min venn!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

It's good to see your back Shawn!

My Dad had a stroke after a heart atack, probably a result of over medication with blood thinners. His injury was unnoticeable after a couple of years. It was tough on him though.

Get well soon!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Welcome back, Shawn!

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Great to have you back Shawn, nice to see one of the classical experts posting again. Unless I've missed his post I think Joshua has also been absent for a while.

Shawn my friend! I've been thinking about you lately, and was planning on shooting another email your way. I can't begin to tell you how glad I am to see you back here and (hopefully) feeling better and on the road to recovery.

You've been missed...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Shawn --

I'm an infrequent poster here, but I'm very happy to hear of your improved condition. I look forward to getting to know you and learning from you, through your involvement here.

Ken

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

Shawn -

It's great to have you back. I look forward to hearing your voice and opinions on the classical world again. I hope your recovery is speedy and complete.



Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Shawn,

It's great to see you back on the block.

Take good care,

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Shawn!
Great to have to back!
Don told me about your health condition a good while back and
I have keep you in my T/P's.

Great to see you back on your feet buddy!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

While I'm new the the forum, I'd still like to welcome you back and wish you the very best as you continue to recover.
Be well,
George :-)

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George :-)

Gee Shawn, well that explains it......!!...so sorry to hear this has been such a rough year for you but am very glad to hear you are doing so well.
I had a heart attack myself in February and have made many changes as a result (hey, do you think maybe it was the food in Siguenza??.....<G>) retiring from my job being not the least of them and like yourself I'm very grateful for a good outcome.
Great to have you back and please let me know if I can assist you in any way. I was at the GFA in S.F. last week and met Monica and Steve Ganz among other Romanillos alums and you were fondly remembered.
You probably know that Jose' acquired the Santos Hernandez tools and workshop fixtures for the Museum. I've been collecting odd Spanish guitar examples myself and now have a wall full.
My very best wishes for a continuing recovery!
David

Great to see you back Shawn! My heart problems started when I was 39 and I have been up and down with them ever since. Today's medicine is wonderful and I am glad that you are getting back up to speed again. Hope you can start getting back in the shop and building again soon!

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Reguards,

Ken H

Just read Shawn's post and David LaPlante's reply ....... really surprised and sorry to hear about health problems with both of you and glad to hear that you are both on the mend.

Wishing you both all the best from the UK,
Steve Rees

... hmmmm? ...... just off to make a few phone calls!!

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http://www.reesguitars.co.uk

Shawn, good to have you back, too few classical builders here and without you the numbers were depleted both in quantity and quality. Hope your health is gets back to where you want it to be.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Continue to "hang in there", Shawn. You are a model of courage for the rest of us "kids".
Nelson

Hi Shawn,

I'm very glad to hear that you're back from the brink! Your absence was certainly felt, even if I couldn't identify what was gone. Now that you're back, well, its obvious.

Good luck with your recovery. Your description of left side strength sounds familiar. Even though its not stroke related, I live with the effects of a neck injury from almost 30 years ago. Whenever I get frustrated with living with the handicaps, I kick myself in the back side and remind myself how much better it is than the alternative!

Here's wishing you perseverance and good humour!

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/