'Reduc' means 'brought back or revived.' Finally I know.

My fretted or mountain dulcimer has been sitting unused for a long time, partly because of a problem with my thumb, and partly because of habit. But three hours ago I underwent cataract surgery, and I'm floating about in a fog. I decided that now would be a good afternoon to get out the dulcie and brush up my techniques.

I think the instrument, which I tune D-A-A, has been sitting unused for at least two years. I got out the tuner, and the low D string was a few cents flat, so was the middle A string, and the melody A string was spot on. What an amazing instrument.

The thumb problem is that the cuticle is pulling away from the nail, probably from being rubbed by my thumb pick. This troubled my dermatologist and scared me into not playing. But then I had an idea. I put a Dr. Scholl's corn pad over my cuticle, so there's open air between it and the tight band of the thumbpick. And I'm going to keep an eye on how long a session lasts. No more playing for two hours.

Tunes:

Hector the Hero
Holy Manna
Cockles and mussels
He is an Englishman

That's not many, but I played them each a few times, reviewing where the chords are. Doing this perked up my soul.