Career

Since my junior year in high school (1973-74) at the Interlochen Arts Academy, I knew that professionally I wanted nothing other than to teach choral music at the college level. I put in the requisite training - a Bachelor of Arts degree (1979) in music history and literature from St. Olaf College (which was excellent preparation for graduate school), a Master of Music degree (1982) in choral conducting from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (1988) in choral conducting from Michigan State University, and then I secured a teaching position at Michigan's Olivet College, and was doing precisely what I had wanted to for decades. But my severe 1993 automobile accident, with my consequent inability to speak or sing, ended that.

After mostly floudering around during the 14-plus years since my accident, a couple of years ago I became aware of what seemed like a good possibility for me. Medical transcriptionists take audio recordings of physicians and turn them into written reports which become part of the patient's permanent record. In our increasingly medically oriented society, and with my good ear and good verbal and keyboard skills, this seemed right up my alley. So I've been training (self-paced) for this through At-Home Professions. I've been delayed beyond what I had expected, and am now trying to finish the training ASAP. I have to wonder if, at age 50, this isn't a foolish and quixotic venture - but I'm too young to sit and do nothing!

Giving blood

I was very happy yesterday to be able successfully to give blood again (for the 92nd time). My friend Doug kindly ran me over to the donor center after our traditional Friday lunch. At one point, he referred to "Allen's Livery Service," and, while this amused me, I also thought, "At least it's better than 'Allen's Liver Service'!"

When the nurse noticed how much I had given, she told me, "I was amazed recently to send it a request for a donor for a 23-gallon pin!" I am working on my 12th gallon, and told her that my lifetime goal is 30 gallons. She grinned and said, "You have a ways to go!" Then I typed out, "Yes, but my grandmothers were 102 and 93, so I think I have a chance." She read this, and her eyes opened wider and wider and then she said, "I think you have a very good chance!"

Becoming a father-in-law

My daughter Christy became engaged earlier this year to a young man of whom I am very fond. I have wonderful memories of meeting Reggie when I visited Christy in Colorado in March 2006, and he picked me up at the Denver airport. When I came off the plane, he was waiting, smiling, and saying, "You must be Dr. Borton!" They created a website about their relationship:

Game over

It greatly saddens me, but I am grappling with the difficult realization that I will not make the goal I had set of reaching 200 pounds by my birthday (March 17). I have been losing 5 pounds/month ever since late April, reaching 214 on Dec. 1, and was on target to make it. But this past weekend, I ran 8 miles on Saturday morning, reaching a new low of 209.5 ... and then, although I felt fine at the time, I developed a problem with the hamstring in my left leg. The back of that thigh has been tight since that time, preventing me from running, and my weight has begun to go back up. I hope to hold the line as well as possible, and get back to exercising as soon as I can, but know that if I rush it and try to run prematurely I could be looking at a very long period of healing.

The body - NOT a perfect machine

I have been running steadily all this year, and have logged over 930 miles so far. My runs have been increasing in length in recent weeks. 3 days ago (Saturday morning), I ran 8 miles at Bally - and felt good doing so. But I evidently overdid; the next day I had to stop after 2 miles, as the back of my left thigh was tightening up rather severely. Yesterday I did not try to run at all, as I was experiencing discomfort, and I'm going to take today off, too (giving me consecutive days off for the first time in my memory since resuming running last April). I hope to be back to it tomorrow, as I do feel some improved ... but, we'll see.