Music and Life After a Stroke

THE BAND PLAYS ON !

Bob January [me, BJ] had my stroke on 6/11/99 to

(today).

Bob January written in HTML , written letter by letter
It's noy perfectly typed - word by word..
But, is it better to do this than to die.

It is hard (difficult) (allmost impossible - to do this - but a bit - each part of internet set up part, spelling, typing.
Now, in order to have been the band director in New York at the Madison Square Garden to have a stroke,
there is also a large ammount of work ( practice the clarinet, write - organiize - get the egragation engagement (gigs) for getting the $, wive(s). etc..etc..., etc. . . . . . . . . .

So, you know that I am the type of guy works...
Maybe, you would rather die.
But, I was - am not - giving it up.
So, you - who have had a stroke - can do it also.

Now, I am writing here at 9/9/02 - 02/17/04.

I've writing these parts many, many times, and I am correcting these parts, over and over.

But, I believe that ANYONE ELSE writes about these things who have had a stroke, (AND lived through it), and still writes it as much as anyone who has had these things.

But most people do not thing that there -------------.

If you are thinking about hiring my bands, you should remember that I work doing better of speaking, reading and the writing is the least part of my work./UL>

 But, after a lot of playing, and without much of provlems,I am living in San Miguel, Mexico, - with my wife and three dogs, and have drived here three or four times to New York City - several times alone (since my dogs are not safely driving).

That day, I was the band leader in the (New York) Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers (hockey) were about to begin

We had television recorded, and no one noticed that I could see any had that I was having a stroke except a few on my musicians who noticed that I've had that stroke a bit than three years.

I'm not as good as I was on 6/10/99, but I'm writing this myself, an speaking, driving, playing (sax, clarinet, etc.), and working on this internet, which I'm working on a bit at each time I can.

>

This was all written by byself. personally. And not easally. If some of these secions are not well stated, I will sometimes get around to fixing it. But it's the best I can do today.

On 6/11/99 I was leading my band at the Madison Square Garden Hammerstein Ballroom 2000 for the Rangers.

A sell out, but I never got to see the Hockey. I HAD A STROKE ˆë (APHASIA}, as they tell me.).

I didn't die, or fall over, or even kill myself (which I wanted to at times).

And I studied myself. A LOT !

READING

WRITING

SPELLING

EXERCISING

THINKING

More about this later ˆêˆê how badly was my when I was hurt (another way that other strokes refer to themselves); what I did; what I am still doing, what were the good things about having the stroke ˆë and all the others.

.And it seems that I'm usually almost the (as we-all who say it) 'back to normal'

If you-all are NOT back to normal, here's a message from me, .<

It is possible for you, too. I was there. This is the way I did it Read on, although, you may not be able to read this, have your wife, soon, neighbor, church-member(s). And mostly do it yourself. Then on 11/14/00 (about a 18 months after having my stroke) and I played in the program here on the right side. [conducted, played, orchestrated a bit. The problem was spoke by

Beverly Sills >

( and Lawrence Rockefeller, Michael Bloomberg).
If you live out of town (as New Yorkers speak) you will know that Michael Bloomberg is now mayor of New York City.

Of course, I didn't tell the audience that I had a stroke

I didn't talk much to anyone, except the twenty of my musicians But, the few people who knew that I had stroke

Came over to see the upcoming 6/11/00 at the New York Quadrille.

I believe that they were afraid that I wouldn't die.

Not realizing, that I had already played at the Quadrille in January 2000. Of course, I didn't tell the audience that I had a stroke I didn't talk much to anyone, except the twenty of my musicians with Beverly Sills Honoring (right) 'Bob January Orchestra' is on the bottom line. (Immediately under David Rockefeller)

Then, in 2/2/02 I played (conducted the music, orchestrated, played ) for the

2001 Quadrille

New York Quadrille.

2001 Quadrille

Playing at Quadrille in 2001

in the New York Plaza.


2001 Quadrille

I'm there on top of the picture. Betsy (my wife) is on the top-right, with the video tape recorder. Murrey (my assistant) is to Betsy's left. This is a photo, which someone printed it, but I like it.

I bet you do, too.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY

3/06/2002.

Here's a picture at my birthday Mexican Party This shows to show that I was happy that I was alive.

The tequilla helped.


HOW SWEET IT IS !! ??

IT WAS GREAT !

(for awhile)

"It's always Something"

--Gilda Radnor I did have a stroke, as I wrote.

Remember, that this is being writting, one letter be one, while I am still here 4/25/02 at 3 A.M., an the learning of the HTML and the technical things of CD's, music writting, and all those things that you-ll would like to hear me writing, are not done except that I want to help all of you-all people out there... This will be written day by day. I suppose that you will see what I will say about the pictures that I've already put into the internet,,,,,

How badly did I have it., you may ask?

It that I wasn't unable to talk, like Kirk Douglas.
Bit, I wasn't able to think in anyother way then in my word, except 'Yes' or 'No', or realized to the meaning of heard it. To write them. To read the words. To speak and the words.

I could understand music (as a melody, y

But, it wasn't ALL fun in my life. This is another from the first days at St. Vincent's Hospital

Many of the musicians who were there at that time, thought I'd never play. If you know how bad I was ready to kill myself, you won't know, until you do it your self. From the first days at St. Vincent's Hospital. Many of the musicians who were there at that time, thought I'd never play.s I kept a book showing me progress in my writing. I kept a book showing me progress in my writing from the first day they day me, while I was at the St. Vincent's Hospital. This is the best writing, spelling in one of the first week.

My wife, Betsy, was living / commuting from New York/Chicago, and I had to gather my food for the four days.

I had written the things I might want to eat at McDonald's, or Taco Bells.


Usually I was able to order "Number One", etc.

There is also, several words about Kirk Douglas, who inspired me in the 'Young Man With The Horn'.

Doris Day was the good girl.

Lauren Bacall was the 'bad girl'.


This is another

from the first days at St. Vincents Hospital

Many of the musicians who were there at that time, thought I'd never play.

As I first said, I had a stroke.

After a month, I was writing/spelling this way

I believed that it would be about a year until I was back until I was normal.

But it was more difficult than I thought.

There are 300,000 words to learn. That is, 300,00 word to know how to what the written word for the writer to myself. The same 300,00 word to know how speak the written words with my mouth. The same 300,00 word to know how to hear and understanding the meaning. The same 300,00 word to know how to speak to a reader.
Also, when I hear a written, and speak it back to another person is very difficult.

THERE ARE OTHER PROBLEMS

i.e. When I must send a musician on the phone, I usually (4/02) make several errors.
This page written be Bob January 5/2002. And has (relearned writing HTML [internet sending]).

This is as true as I know. So, I was playing at the Roseland seven hours each day-night, and we met a lot of people. Among one of them was timpanist at the New York Philharmonic, who was with his wife learning ballroom dancing.
Maestro Kurt Masur is the Conductor of New York Philharmonic. Her wife were good friends with Masur's wife, and so when they wanted a birthday, they let went to here us and all Masur's band. (the New York Philharmonic came in by bus from downtown, in Chinatown.)
We played They liked us, I guess, and so when the three other big orchestra/bands in New York had failed
doing what was required at the Quadrille, they let me try it.
I brought several people to speak better than I do.
This We've been doing this for about the next six of eight years. (This is the way I have to spell things lately.) I can't sing either. But since I have all my hair, and after the stroke, I have taken off my glasses (with the help of Laser). And we've have good luck by they like us to play one week each Saturday. For money. There are only two old ones we new: Gerry Mohen, Roy Bailey. Hap told be he wouldn't go the whole way to NJ for short money.
Until he say Bob was getting better, and I had already found a drummer.
Harry Wells. Who was in Jimmy Dorsey on the bus that had an accident a week before I entered at the Rainbow Room.
Meanwhile, I've been trying to read better, and we are still at the Quadrille next Saturday.
Rehearsal at 3 P.M. you looked all over the dogs, and Al Haig, you can see that it isn't very easy for me (and to charge) to set this up, and Jeany will get these messages like the others get from them. I am getting these, and addressing who is receiving the names of the receiver, or me, if I want to, or want not to.
So, now I call this the New York Strauss Orchestra or the New York Dance Orchestra (if the book has vocal and guitar).
I'll write a bit later. -- Here's another thing that I never saw reading about./// When you're getting together the band's library. Whether you write it by pencil, or on a computer, or buying it on the old style small paper, or the newer ones, above the 11" X 17" . What ever.... there are two parts. First, all the physical paper parts must be all the same size. Otherwise, the musicians, who don't care about the music paper pages, will turn it up, Stick it in, and lose it up. It is a bit harder for them to turn the music around and here if all the music is the same parts. Then, hill take a copy home to practice it (if you are so stupid to allow that), and then when they don't come to the next rehearsal, the tune can't be played at all. Or they die (which happened to my trombone played.) And also, they will finally tear it apart, or you'll leave the music's entire band part of the (say third trumpet). And then, you can possible made out the parts. If you have a lot of time, or money. So never allow the parts out of your home at all. EVER. So take the music to a photoshop place, like STAPLES, and make the music onto 8 1/2" x 11" or 11" x 17" copies, which never are left other people even know that you have it. Arrange them alphabetically places. Then the next thing, is to insert to numbers 1-2-3-4 etc. . Which will be but into the way you want to do. Like, the lowest numbers 1-10 are not used for these which am needed by Star Spangled Banner, etc. And then a slow tune, a cha cha, an American (slow) waltz, etc. Later, after the polka, meringue, or peabody can be used will be later. The musicians then are not allowed to move the musicians out of place, just like they are in a book. turning to pages over from 1 to 2 to three, and turning the page always (if you have enough tunes) go only forwardly. Since you are starting this area i.e. getting a 'book' of a band together, use this way. It took me a few years to do this. Always exactly this way. I have about six or seven 'books'. So, in each one, the first name is 'what book' "New York Dance Orchestra" (NYDO), "Strau§ Festival Orchestra" (SFO), Satin Swing (SS), Big Band (BB), New York Atonal Orchestra (NYAO), and two others that I can't recollect. Does this sound like a lot of work?? Well, this doesn't add to problems of practicing, composing, orchestrating, firing some of your best friends because they thing they plan better than they will be able. I suppose you want to hear these things, even though you'd like the things to be different than the things I'm writing.

A PARABLE DONKEY

One day a farmer's donkey fell into an abandoned well.

The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn't worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly.

Then, a few shovelfuls later, he quieted down completely. The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of all the neighbors!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.

The trick to getting out of the well is to not let it bury you, but to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up! Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1) Free your heart from hatred.
2) Free your mind from worries.
3) Live simply.
4) Give more.
5) Expect less

Which brings me to another moral for this story:

When you try to cover your ass, it always comes back and gets you



Years ago, we were the regular band the Rainbow Room; then at Roseland.
Three years ago, I was playing leading the bands at the (NYC) Rangers in the Madison Square Gardenwhile the video was playing when I had a stroke (aphasia, perhaps).
I didn't die, or even fall down, but I was went directly to St. Vincents and ten days later to Helen Hayes for eight weeks.
Then, later to Phelps.
All the persons there know me well.
I have written at bobjanuary.com where I've written about.
I have written there about strokes at bobjanuary.com, and since me stroke I have played with The New York Quadrille ball, and have led my band some other places with appearances including Beverly Sills to Joe Franklin.
Do you remember me?
Bob January


>

Here's several pictures of me.

If I'm wearing my eyeglasses, this photo was taken before my stroke.

Picture of Bob January About that time, [ and the way I had the stroke ] I had my laser(s) taken. That's a different story, which I'll end later. But, on the first sixty years of my life, all of photos was wearing my eyeglasses. But, for sure, not using glasses is much better It's only one of the


2002/7/08

Here's a few things that other people haven't written. But, be figured out how to scans these [again, like every thing is remembering everything].

I'll write about strok'ing later, but you-all know about what I'm going to tell you shows these pictures. I've been playing about three or five games of Scrabble every day. Now I've got my score up to about 320.


Here's the ad I say in the 2002.
’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢ ’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢’Ä¢help This also in Chicago at Leger's 'Reclining Women' looks a lot of after having had a stroke logic book beginning logic magazine end Picasso
--4/29/00

The man thing that I want to well you-all who now is having a stroke...maybe his father or sister can read to this as they can't read these to his own.

When I got the stroke, I was really in bad shape. I was in the hospital in New York at St. Vincent's, until I became well enough to be sent to Helen Hayes, and then I was on the top floor for four weeks.

I was very like a VERY NICE jail.

I was so (angry) that the doctors would not be (placed) into others.
And I was decided to that I was going to get out as soon as possible, and kill myself.
A thought all the time about it. How I would do it.
And I've been around enough that the first thing, was to not at I was thinking that thing.
So I came at times, usually crying when the (teachers) and the psychologists talk.
Naturally, they couldn't say of the main subject. And neither did I. My wife, Betsy, wouldn't stay to live me at the way I was. And it would be better for her to remain things at the best.

But first, there was a few things to do.

I had to put the music of order.
I had to redo the roof, and the sump.
I had to fix the electricity places their not right.
I had to meet to meet my daughter Jill in Atlanta,
I had to fix the telephones, which we had not made it right.
I had to meet with my daughter, Celeste, in Arizona, and his daughter.
And my daughter Charlene in Louisiana, and my sister in Pennsylvania.
And to Jennifer in New York. And maybe, wait until Zach was a few little linger.
I suppose that you know how this went out.

In my musician, or as in many types, you get thrown out of a job, and thrown out of an other job (always the time which is better).

This is just another one. (easy to say, especially 10 months later.) --4/29/00

Do you notice that all the gay people or all the police, know about each others now they meet. Or evenly, if they only see each other.
But I see any musician how has had a stroke.
I see on some big people, on the TV, or in a concert.
I won't tell them, unless they tell me they can.

--end for the story by Bob's

This is the best stroke I've found.

http://neuro- Bob January Quintet
www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum/StrokeMenu.html
also
http://www.oliversacks.com/
http://www.aphasia.org/
http://www.aphasia.org/NAApeople.html


If you want to hear our news, especially about musicians who had a stroke on this, please send a letter to

bob@bobjanuary.com.

We'll send out the mail things, like all people do these days, as soon as we get it working.

here's a message for

KIRK DOUGLAS

to my friends, the lead of YOUNG MAN with A HORN

You and I have seen the movies of Young Man with A Horn, Lust for Life, and Spatirgress (??? spelled 1999 [ means 'Sparticas' (sp 2002)]) you will not know that Bob became as a band leader because of those he loved in the movies on Kirk, music.

I heard that Kirk has also had a STROKE. Bob is writing, playing, and walking (saxophone) this his self only six months and one day after his stroke.

OLIVER SACKS's printed in the Sunday newspaper PARADE on 3/31/2002.



CONTACT BOB . . .--> BOB JANUARY MAILBOX