# 4
Brian McTear to me
11/5/04
Pancreatitis…. never had it. Probably don’t want it.
Not to trade horror stories back and forth or anything, but have experienced what they call CF Arthritis? Boy, that hurt. I first came across that when I was 24. It has only happened a handful of times, the last being over two years ago. Every joint in my body flared up. I felt like a 100 year old man. Couldn’t lie down or stand up or move anything without big pain. I really feel like the rest of my life will probably be measured by the quality of the time in between those episodes, ’cause they are hell. But like I said, its been about two, two and a half years, and I don’t feel it coming any time soon.
One recommendation I can make, and it has truly changed my life for the better… much better, is yoga. Have you ever tried it? It is only helpful if it becomes a regular regimen, and I know it is tough to have more of those than you already have. But it is beautiful. I read in Newsweek a few years back that the average person increases their lung capacity by nearly 10% after two months of yoga…. 10%! It has really helped me. I bought videos, and my girlfriend had taken classes for years so that helps too.
Touring makes me nervous for sure. I was happy to say that I did just fine this last time around. My biggest concern is that if I get congested I won’t be able to sing. It is hard to avoid that if it is going to happen, so I just forgo the crazy hours and long nights. I spend as much time standing outside the bar as I can, away from smoke. I am older, so I always have that as an excuse for being the first to retire for the night. Besides that, I have my digestion to worry about. My thing (on tour) is that I don’t eat a whole lot. I eat just enough, as much vegetarian as possible, so that I don’t feel crappy.
You are lucky that’s not a big issue. I went my whole life til I was 20 not realizing that, in fact, I always felt a little crappy. When I became a vegetarian (which lasted about 7 or 8 years) I learned that there was such a thing as not feeling like shit because of food. I have always been a pretty happy and up beat person (could you imagine recording a record with a guy who’s a total downer?), so that somehow elevated me beyond wallowing in my digestive issues. I have a sister who also has CF. We have the same genes, obviously, but she always got sucked into feeling crappy. She is 21, I think.
So my next show is November 13 at the Balcony, with Julie Doiron. It is a pre-show for Pedro the Lion at the Troc. That night I will also be playing at the Khyber for a benefit for the Sara Weaver Foundation. She was a dear friend… my best friend, really, who died about two years ago from Leukemia. So it will be two shows in one day. I’d love it if you could come out. I won’t be handing you Psuedomonis for the first time, will I? If so, you can wave from across the room.
B