Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello to all, old and new. I told a couple of people here why it seemed I had dropped off the Pre- Columbian edge of the earth. Might as well fill in those interested. If you check my bio you get a fair picture of me. Some six months ago I started having episodes of disorientation and frequent and frustrating short-term memory lapses. I could walk from one room to another in my tiny bungalow, or walk out of my office to our secretary and struggle to recall what I wanted. Happens to all of us but not 10 or more times a day. I did a couple of sentencings where I could not recall doing the plea-but--Don't PANIC- the sentencing was going just as it should, so I had handled the plea just fine. I was having unusual close calls on missing appointments and appearances. I did not experience any of these problems in my judicial role or in actual trial settings. I confided in some higher echelon judges and my fellow magistrates and our court administrator. They watched me in trial and as a magistrate and said" Same Mike as always." But, I knew something was wrong and I was scared.

After some team- physician consultations we all concluded that it was not early onset Alzheimer's. But, medicines I have been taking for 25+ years, in higher than normal dosages to maintain a therapeutic blood level, have a side effect. It doesn't hit everyone. It did hit me. Good news is that it won't cause my early death. But, I had to look in a mirror and say, "Mike, you old warhorse,you can keep up the private practice pace until a client is dealt a calamity because you forgot a deadline or appearance. Or, you can protect them from this by closing down your private practice- and fast."

In June I turned 62 and had over one hundred open client files- I had not applied for Social Security. I was not at all financially ready to retire. I had (arrogantly) counted on three more years of law practice income. I have not been the kind of lawyer who amasses fortune. And part-time magistrates in Iowa do not get big salaries. But, I contacted clients and but for a few where a change would be truly disastrous, I got them settled in with new counsel. I removed my name from our court appointed lawyer lists.

In a three month period my income was reduced by two thirds and I now have a frightening amount of time on my hands. I am well known here, and I cannot get a job at a Kwik Shop. I won't lie about why I do not practice law anymore.

I know I am not a talented luthier. I can, however, make tools, including wooden body and infill handplanes. I know how to weld and work at an anvil, forging and heat treating. I am developing a series of damascus steel socket bench chisels, three styles of wooden planes and one style of infill plane and one plough plane with threaded arms. And, I am teaching "Introduction to Criminal Justice" at a University here- adjunct professor; a single course contract and no benefits but something I have wanted to do(I would really like to teach US history). From time to time I am teaching a class on maintaining edged tools-Shaping and Honing.

So, to keep the wolf tones from the door, that is what I am doing. I am just getting started. I was with my mother in Maryland for the last two weeks and had left for that after moving my file storage, and other things I wanted from my office and sharing a bit of a tearful moment with my two younger officemates. We will see each other sometimes and they are changing suites and bringing in another lawyer. It is not arrogance to say that we were thought of as one of the 2-3 best criminal defense law offices in Iowa and in Iowa and Illiniois Federal Courts. I am a veteran of some 35-40 murder trials and in total, probably 300 to 400 felony level jury trials- an unheard of pace and level of legal responsibility. Most were as an appointed counsel and many as prosecutor, thus not getting rich. Fact is, most middle class financially responsible families cannot afford a good felony defense- in Iowa we err on the side of caution and more generously appoint counsel, taking into account the financial impact upon familty stability.

So, I am not giving up on guitars and I hope I can still learn and sometimes add value on this forum. And, my thanks to those who knew and have had me in their thoughts and P's. Thank you, Just Mike

Dang it is good to hear from you Mike hang in guy , I will look forward you post!

It sure is good to hear from you Mike my friend.

Now that you have some time I am sure that you will find that you have lots of friends here at the OLF and I for one am very much looking forward to your participation here once again.

Great to have you back Mike!

A positive side effect, more Mike at the OLF!

Glad your doing better! And welcome back!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Mike, good to see you! Stick around, we need someone to set us straight when it comes down to hand tools (and sharpening) around here.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Welcome back Mike. When you are ready, show us the tools, too. Some of us use tools, occasionally!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Hey Mike,

Glad to see you here once again. Welcome to the 62 and over club....

It sounds as though you have taken steps you feel necessary and I know that your new endeavors will bring both smiles and enrichment. Besides, I'm eagerly waiting to get on the list for one of your planes.... and maybe even a chisel or two.

Best Regards,

Peter

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Peter

Great to hear from you again, Mike! Sorry about the health issues.

Pat

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

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Mike,

When you started off your story, I thought about the times when I have walked down the length of the hall to ask my secretary something, and forgotten why I went there once I arrived. Part of it is just getting way past 50, but I understand the deeper and greater level of your concern.

At any rate, please stick around, and show us some tools! Everyone here has just as much TAS as WAS and GAS, I'm sure. (I know I do!)

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu