I’m almost awake. It’s taken six and a half days and a trip to the doctor. I hurt my back sitting with terrible posture on a hard bed for 10 days in Minneapolis writing on my laptop. Everything they say about posture is true, so let my dumb body be a lesson to yours – you WILL have to go to the hospital if you don’t start thinking about it. I got off light with some stretches and some prescription mega-propfen, but it’s not fuckin’ worth it man…
Nov 27, 2022·edited Nov 28, 2022Liked by Neko Case
I was pretty much not able to paint for about a year and a half during rookie school to be a firefighter and then paramedic school. I’d never taken a forced break from making art like this. There was simply no time. Rookie school was a thrill and all but I deeply missed painting. The flip side was after finishing those endeavors and then setting up in a studio again (spare bedroom). I felt a new ease and calm I'd maybe lacked before. Art making became much more essential and meaningful and has helped carry me through these 28 yrs as a firefighter still.
I'm grateful for having a proper home, though me or part of me or one of me seems to cut out from time to time regardless, which certainly doesn't help. The closest analogy I can think of is like driving state to state, having to re-tune in new radio stations to find the songs I know and like and return me to me. I've got no good answer for who or what the fuck is driving, though.
I feel this so hard! Contractors are the worst of the working class. I’ve known a few good ones but they seem to be on their own time. Your gray was fierce! Your red is fierce! You are a survivor, a fighter. Sending all the strength of the ancestors your way.
“Have you ever disappeared from your own life for an extended period of time? Did you recognize yourself when you reappeared? Are you still missing?” I feel like this is the most pressing and poignant question for all of us as we adjust to living with COVID and what that means for ourselves and our lives as we readjust.
Yes, and yes I finally did recognize myself. I can't even read a book without fucking up my back much less write one! I hope you did get out a little bit to walk those beautiful lakes and eat some of those yummy french fries at Barbette.
Mashed my back up badly extending my adolescence into my 40s as an Army First Sergeant. As a Army servant- leader, you get paid to do what a next door Command Sergeant Major referred to once as "your damned adolescent shit!" Bad posture on a hard bed to write is pretty close to the same thing -- Chiropractic can help a lot, but you do have to keep the appointments. Ice and heat, massage, Copper Fit Back Support Belts and stretching help a lot. Too much Ibuprofen or Aspirin or Tylenol can do weird things to your liver -- Non-alcoholic Cirrhosis is a surprising problem. Get a Teeterboard for home, Yoga for the Road and Ice packs and Heat pads. And keep doing the adolescent shit only in some degree of moderation. Prolong your being Neko Case, Mad Shanachie and Poet Laureate of Tacoma and Vancouver.
I am still half-missing from my life but maybe when my hair grows back I can dye it and recognize myself again? Bring on the flame!
There are a few me’s missing now.
still missing.....
finding my way back though, i think?
this is a great one. hope your back feels better soon.
xoxo
I was pretty much not able to paint for about a year and a half during rookie school to be a firefighter and then paramedic school. I’d never taken a forced break from making art like this. There was simply no time. Rookie school was a thrill and all but I deeply missed painting. The flip side was after finishing those endeavors and then setting up in a studio again (spare bedroom). I felt a new ease and calm I'd maybe lacked before. Art making became much more essential and meaningful and has helped carry me through these 28 yrs as a firefighter still.
I’m doing my best to give missing me a leg up to get over the wall, scraped knees and all.
Still missing. Thanks for writing. ♥️
Feel you on this Neko. All I can say is welcome back, we are still here and love you more than ever!
I'm grateful for having a proper home, though me or part of me or one of me seems to cut out from time to time regardless, which certainly doesn't help. The closest analogy I can think of is like driving state to state, having to re-tune in new radio stations to find the songs I know and like and return me to me. I've got no good answer for who or what the fuck is driving, though.
I feel this so hard! Contractors are the worst of the working class. I’ve known a few good ones but they seem to be on their own time. Your gray was fierce! Your red is fierce! You are a survivor, a fighter. Sending all the strength of the ancestors your way.
“Have you ever disappeared from your own life for an extended period of time? Did you recognize yourself when you reappeared? Are you still missing?” I feel like this is the most pressing and poignant question for all of us as we adjust to living with COVID and what that means for ourselves and our lives as we readjust.
Be well soon, Ms Neko.
Yes, and yes I finally did recognize myself. I can't even read a book without fucking up my back much less write one! I hope you did get out a little bit to walk those beautiful lakes and eat some of those yummy french fries at Barbette.
Mashed my back up badly extending my adolescence into my 40s as an Army First Sergeant. As a Army servant- leader, you get paid to do what a next door Command Sergeant Major referred to once as "your damned adolescent shit!" Bad posture on a hard bed to write is pretty close to the same thing -- Chiropractic can help a lot, but you do have to keep the appointments. Ice and heat, massage, Copper Fit Back Support Belts and stretching help a lot. Too much Ibuprofen or Aspirin or Tylenol can do weird things to your liver -- Non-alcoholic Cirrhosis is a surprising problem. Get a Teeterboard for home, Yoga for the Road and Ice packs and Heat pads. And keep doing the adolescent shit only in some degree of moderation. Prolong your being Neko Case, Mad Shanachie and Poet Laureate of Tacoma and Vancouver.
Also M.I.A. here ...appreciate the tale of your re-emergence. Inspired to now flame the fire of my crowning glory and see what happens.
I hear you! My right hand/arm started hurting last spring and it took the whole summer’s worth of physio to get it back together. Laptops are cruel!