Voice Strain

I went to two services on Sunday. We went to a Labor Day party with friends on Monday -- lots of chatting. Started reading aloud another book to the kids -- one of those things we should be doing more of for school, doncha know. Choir on Wednesday night after church. Katie and Nathan arrived yesterday. They're here for three days, and I'm having altogether too much fun visiting with them. I'm planning to take a couple of kids to go visit my folks next week, which is going to mean another lovely time of chatting with loved ones. Wednesday is supposed to be a beach day with the homeschoolers, and I am looking forward to chatting with Erin and others. Wednesday night is choir again. Then I've got two weeks before the heavy-duty talk-TALK-talk of the weekend we girls go to Ft Wayne for a shower.

I can't believe what's going on with my voice. I've been trying to go easy on my voice since that year-long bout of laryngitis about 7 years ago. I fool myself into believing that I'm doing okay, that I'm coping, that I'm managing, that my voice isn't as bad as it was, that I've recuperated. Then along comes a week like this, and I see the weakness. I'm wondering if I'm even going to be able to stay in choir. I'm wondering how I'm going to delve into the teaching [new subjects] that I'm longing to start with Andrew and with Maggie. I keep telling myself that I'm using my voice a lot and that this is unusual, on top of its being allergy season.

Having my voice failing is so different from the aging that I encounter in my vision or in my strength or in the length of time it takes to heal from an injury or an illness. A failing voice handicaps me in so many areas that touch right at the heart of who I am and what I do.