August 29th, 2002

Good morning folks, 

   This has been a most difficult week as the damage caused by an accidental fall, one month ago has caused a near paralysis of my legs. Walking is no longer possible. I was "lucky" enough to get in to see a very competent young neurologist this week because of a cancellation, but the results of the test were not very positive. All indications point to a condition called "thoracic myelopathy". This can only be confirmed when I finally get to have another MRI which will not be for another two weeks. Apparently there’s some kind of compression damage to the spinal cord and it is affecting my ability to walk and stand. This is the most discouraging diagnosis and I am not sure as to what the future holds. Of course, because of this I have not been able to accumulate any interesting experiences this week. I have  mostly been sitting on the couch watching TV or staring out the window. I am unable to negotiate stairs and any movement requires the use of a walker (it’s a nice red colored one that my brother Tom gave me. I affectionately refer to it as "Johnny Walker Red"!). Of course this puts a damper on living in an old Victorian house that requires restoration. So as you can see many things are up in the air. Certainly my travel plans are washed up and I am now fighting just to have some kind of independence of living as I am unable to drive a car. Even negotiating on my mobility scooter is a challenge. I’ve had a few offers for visitors but I have declined most as I feel quite inadequate as far as entertaining anyone.      
   On the plus side, my brain is not dead and I’m still available to absorb information that I see every day. I would like to weigh in on the current topical issue of forgiveness of student loan debt. While the matter has been tossed back-and-forth in political circles as a talking point for garnering votes, a great deal of the fault lies on the shoulders of the colleges who have been pricing themselves out of existence. This has happened because they have sold themselves off as administration heavy, moneymaking institutions and not seats of higher learning. Instead of rethinking how they can impart knowledge to our large and diverse population, they opted to become institutes of finance and wealth. They stopped being creative when they started putting their energies into raising money rather than raising their standard. Schools in general, our most important institution for preserving and advancing culture, have stood still for a century or more. The concept of grade system and the concept of the amount of time it takes for a degree should all be reassessed. Who said everyone needs four years of college or high school for that matter. Institutes of learning must be creative and have the ability to think beyond what they have been doing for centuries. Furthermore, as far as the actual forgiveness of debt is concerned, this will be a benefit for the society as a whole. Those folks who no longer have to spend that monthly amount, will now have funds to make a purchase of a house, a car, a guitar, or a banjo!. Not only that, but the merchant who sells those items will collect an 8% sales tax (in NYS)…as well as having to pay income tax on the profit made on the sold item which all goes back to the coffers. What goes around comes around. Think things through.

Sincerely, 

John Bernunzio

Ryan has been buying and cataloging instruments at an incredible pace. There is more GREAT stuff at the store that I’ve ever seen.