My Hip Journey

It has been almost two years since I posted on my professional blog page, an appropriate time to post as it is Hip Awareness month.  Time simply stopped in 2014. I had to refocus my attention to more important tasks like regaining my strength and stability after two orthopedic surgeries and a pending third reconstructive hip surgery. I had two hip replacements and a spinal decompression of lower lumbar, due to a late diagnosis of hip dysplasia at age 46.  The first surgery was in October 2012 and the last in May 2015.

My 15 years of back pain was finally identified as hip dysplasia. It is one of those invisible disabilities that no one really has heard about in humans, but once you say it you are quickly categorized, "like a dog". Yes like a dog, but unlike a dog I have to get up and take care my family, continue working, do my exercises, and go to numerous doc appointments to continue staying functional. Your limits are tested daily and you long to be the old energetic person you once were. You learn a lot about yourself and some things you would rather not acknowledge. Your friends have no idea what is wrong with you. They make their own assumptions. Soon you start to isolate and friend your circle becomes very small. A once very social, highly active, community involved person reduced to a few tasks a day. Daily life is prioritized into important tasks, kids needs and care, husband, keeping house going, and oh yes most importantly keeping yourself going.

While all this was going on I still needed to stay inspired, create beautiful happy pictures, and continue thinking of new ideas. On the inside I was from suffering from excruciating muscle skeletal pain as my body and brain began to rewire.  I wanted to get back to the things I had passion and energy to do before, but over the last year that reality changed. I am a new person reborn into a different body.  My illustration style needed to change, my workspace need adaptation, and what I wanted to do creatively also changed.

In my quest to become functional and lower pain, I began immersing myself in the understanding of anatomy, teaching myself all the muscles you use to stay upright, move, and walk. I began understanding and teaching myself functions of the nervous system and how nerves supplied impulses to muscles to make them function. I have studied the concept of neuro plasticity. I subscribed to exercise channels to help myself regain strength. I continued receiving physical therapy. I would read numerous inspirational articles of people overcoming physical obstacles to inspire myself to get better.

Soon my illustrating career took backseat, but I continued to work after each surgery and probably not the best strategy for my situation. In any case, I completed two lift-flap board books What’s in My Truck and What’s in My Train, contributed to a spread to a picture book Margaret Wise Brown’s book Goodnight Songs, and one picture book Margaret Wise Brown’s Tickly Spider. I also worked with Christian Science Monitor Art Director John Kehe on human-interest stories. It was a nice diversion from all the physical therapy. In my opinion, I think my best work by far to this date. What’s In My Truck became my best seller. Scholastic agreed to pick up What’s in My Train due out this fall.  The royalty check I received lately is helping me cover my out of pocket medical modality costs that include, acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care to get me back to my passion.

I’m not sure what my next project will be, but my health journey has really opened my brain to a whole new world of thought. Take this month to make a commitment to better hip health. Start by enrolling in a functional exercise program to gain stability if you feel you need some strength. 

Good Times with Goodnight Songs

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/61517-in-brief-march-20.html

Never to late to say God Bless America

What's in My Truck Published by Scholastic

http://www.amazon.com/Whats-My-Truck-Linda-Bleck/dp/0545535255

Just released in late August. My niece made sure there were in fact over 30 flaps! She counted them all. I had no idea this book was a counting book. Thanks Lucy!

Based on a Scandinavian legend retold by Ilil Arbel, a tale is told that warns people of what Old Man Winter will do when they come to save Spring.  He turns them into animals and they forget their humanity.

It was told that a young man named Oscar volunteered to leave his village to make a plea with Old Man Winter to free spring from captivity.  His village was starving as it was now June and no greenery or sun had shown since winter had started.  Oscar was convinced that perseverance, cunning, and love of Spring would serve better than the tactics of those that went before him.

He ventured on a long journey to Old Man Winter’s ice castle. Upon his arrival,

He approached it cautiously. He looked for an entrance other than the front door.

Three large soldiers grabbed him and dragged him to a spacious room in the castle. Their animals surrounded him.  He sat on the bench and promptly feels asleep.

“Wake up, wake up” said someone next to him. He so no one but when his eyes feel upon his hands they had turned to tiger paws.  Then he soon realized he was a tiger and a bloodthirsty rage came over him. In the distance he saw a white rabbit and he was hungry. He lunged at the rabbit and began to chase it into a dark passage.

After a while he lost the rabbit and sat down on the ground.   He began to cry as he became ashamed of his behavior. The small voice from the rabbit-hiding behind a niche called out, “ It’s okay my friend, and this is what Old Man Winter does to people who come to save spring.  He turns then to animals and they forget their humanity.”

Oscar asked the rabbit what he should do. She told him to give her his paw. She would tattoo his name on his wrist.  “The next time you are filled with rage you’ll will look at your wrist and remember who you are. We are all tattooed here.”

“Who are you and why are you saving me?” Oscar asked. “I am Greta I come from a small village from the North. All my people have died or left. I decided to help anyone who came to save spring.”

The animals at the castle lived underground and foraged for food when they could. They had been digging a tunnel to escape, but became too weak as they were little. They were waiting for a big strong animal to come, and he did, his name was Oscar.  Oscar was anxious to help and began digging furiously in the tunnel Great and her friends had started. Greta gave him a map.  He dug for days forgetting to eat and soon he was near the surface. Greta must have made a miscalculation. Suddenly the ground gave way and an icicle hit his head. He was gravely injured.

He clung to life as the animals came to help him. They could only wait and hope.

When he awoke he was enraged, but Greta shoved his paw in his face to remind him who he was. Greta apologized that it was her fault that she had made a mistake.  She vowed to find other larger animals to help. She found a wolf and used the same tactics she used on Oscar to lure him into the escape.  Soon they had enough big animals strong as an army and strong enough to subdue the guards and break spring from the jail.

When they finally got to the jail it was so sad to see spring locked up behind the ice bars and no flowers around her. They burst from the tunnel and scarred the guards. The animals hurried to free her, but Old Man Winter appeared. The animals barred the jail and protected spring. Greta shouted, “Give Oscar a torch!” Oscar held the torch in his mouth and soon each bar of the jail began to melt.  Spring burst from jail and opened he blue eyes soon the violets and flowers sprouted from the ground.  Light poured over the barren landscape.

Old Man Winter went flying out the window on his slay . He landed next to Spring hoping to scar her. Spring raised her delicate finger and said ,” You cannot win again, Old Man Winter. I am surrounded by people who love me and I am stronger than you. Go home Old Man and come back next year!”

Spring kissed each animal and they reappeared in their human form.  As Spring whisked away she promised that Summer and Autumn would come. A trail of rose petals flew in the air.

Greta joined  Oscar and they returned together to  his village  where they were married. Soon the flowers grew where they married and they lived happily ever after.

Launched New Website www.lindableck.com

Bird Season Upon Us

Every March the birds come back or come through my yard. Historically the Baltimore Oriel will make a stop on it's migration northward.  We put a sliced orange on a post and wait for our friends to arrive. The Oriels are attracted to the color and nectar. We might also lure a few of their cousins; the blue indigo bunting, the hummingbird, and the blue bird are a few. This year I expect a later migration. They will stay through June if we provide the right environment.