Cathy shuts up

Darth Bear helped me remember that just breathing is enough

I had known it was coming for months. I'd been looking forward to it since December.

My vocal chord surgery.

I have a virus that causes extraordinary cell growth on my vocal chords. Over the past year or more, my voice had slowly changed, becoming deeper, softer and more problematic in social situations.

I got headaches when I talked too much. I had to push to make myself heard. My neck craned at odd angles to get the sound out. I couldn't attend networking events, parties, restaurants -- because no one could hear me. It was time for a change. I was ready.