Through the looking glass

It was going to snow. Nate was sure of it. The sky was gray and the temperature had not dipped below 32 degrees all day. The air was still, a kind of calm before the storm. As soon as he got back the office, he would finish his story, file a few briefs and try to blend in with cattle call of advertising executives the rush for the door at 5 p.m. everyday. Now, it was noon and he followed along with the midday herd on their way to bagel shops and fast-food havens. Nate, with his gut protruding a bit to far past his belt line, steered clear of the burger joints that lined Phineas Avenue. He caught glimpse of himself in the reflection of the long window that wrapped around Mindy's Hair Saloon. At one time, long before Nate had considered a career in journalism, the saloon had been a corner dress shop with elaborate window displays that always featured the latest fashions worn by the more wealthier women of Baltimore. Nate had seen old black-and-white newspaper photographs of the shop's revolving front all in stained glass. Years later, Mindy Schuylkill replaced it with a more conventional, two-panel model that made the building look like a savings and loan in Philadelphia Nate had once seen while on an assignment. Once-in-a-while, Nate would pause at the mouth of the saloon, careful to avoid the heavy traffic of middle-ages women rushing in and out, and gaze at the unimaginative door and dream of stained glass.

Facts About Stuttering

-- Four times more men than women are stutterers.
-- Stutterers typically have IQs 10 to 14 points higher than the general population.
-- One out of every 30 children undergoes a period of stuttering lasting about six months or so. Parents should seek professional help as soon as they begin to suspect the problem isn't a temporary one.
-- Stuttering typically begins between 3 and 5 years of age, but occasionally will appear for the first time in an older child.
-- Many stutterers can speak fluently some of the time. They can also whisper without hesitation, speak in unison and sing without stuttering.
-- Most stutterers can speak easily when prevented from hearing their own voices, when talking to pets and small children, and when addressing themselves in the mirror.
-- When talking with a stutterer, don't look away, hurry them, or fill in their words. These actions can create anxiety and make the problem worse.
-- Stutterers represent a whole range of personality types and levels of emotional adjustment. --- Prominent stutterers include James Earl Jones, Sir Isaac Newton, King George VI of England, Winston Churchill, Somerset Maugham -- and even Moses, some believe.
Stuttering can be treated with a variety of approaches for both children and adults.

Not too bad

OK, things did go better than yesterday. Not much better, but an improvement. I did stutter over a few words, but I did use my therapy more often throughout the day. Ofcourse, I did practice more. Anyhow, I did stutter over the word "people." I've always had problems with plosive or voiced sounds. I just need to remember to think before I speak and make sure I'm making my amplitude changes. Also, I started a new book the other day. Salem's Lot by Stephen King. Not a bad book so far.

Troubled Beginnings

I had a rough day. How many people say that and really mean it? Who knows? Anyhow, my day was rough. I picked a career with daily deadlines and demanding bosses. My fellow colleagues and I are constantly feeding the beast. But that is not why my day was rough. After nearly seven years, I'm used to the daily demands. My day was less-than-par because of my shitty speech. Last October, I attended a two-week speech therapy to help conquer my stutter. It worked. I mean, the therapy really does work. For a while, I forgot that I had been afraid to say words like "literature" and "mustang." The word "story" sounded like a tire leaking air. After I left therapy, I was doing great. I practiced regularly and I know longer had to substitute the word "little" with the word "small." Then, I fell back a bit. I noticed it last weekend. I still practiced as much as ever, but I was not transferring that success into real life. Today, I stuttered for the first time in a long time. It sucked. It was so depressing. Not that I did it in front of my boss, but that it happened at all. I need to really focus on what I'm doing and to do the therapy at all times. Let's hope I can do that.