Clumsy in Seattle

On Saturday, Friend Christy and I made a trek to Target, purveyor of underwear and socks, shampoo and conditioner, chicken broth and noodles. I did the bus thing to West Seattle, where Christy met me as I got off the transport, so as to avoid my seeing her supposedly messy house. (I am convinced that I could beat these youngsters in a home-as-hog-wallow contest hands down, but I have to at least admire their shame in showing me their messes).

We first stopped at the local tacqueria for pre-shopping sustenance. I had a chile relleno burrito to die for, while Christy's carnitas and shrimp tacos looked pretty good too. Plus chips and about eight different salsas to try. Yum.

We did our one-stop shopping and had a nice visit, then took the bus back to the center of West Seattle, where Christy alighted and I continued back into downtown. Once there, I spied my #13 bus a block away, and decided to run for it, with my three Target bags in tow. I made it, the driver stopped and opened the door, but in my enthusiasm and joy at making the bus, I slipped at the top of the bus stairs, hit a patch of water on the floor and did an incredible baseball slide into the aisle. I skinned my left knee as my right leg shot out in front of me, heard the collective GASP of the other passengers, something akin to the sound the audience makes when an Olympic skater misses the triple axel - double toe loop and falls on her ass.

I was fine. Really. I gathered my purchases and my dignity and plopped into a seat. After getting back to the apartment, I started putting away my bounty, leaned over and went into a full-on back spasm. Rats.

For the last two days, I've been sitting around with an ice pack in the waistband of my pants. I can walk (if I "glide"), I can sleep if I don't have to turn over, and I can do most everything except put on my socks and shoes.

But today, I decided to seek assistance. I called around and found an acupuncturist two blocks away from the apartment who would take me at 1 pm. I'm not sure why I decided acupuncture instead of chiropractic, I just did.

This treatment was completely different than my Tennessee acupuncture experiences. After explaining why I was there, I disrobed and hoisted myself into a heated bed with flannel sheets. Mr Acupuncture came in and applied pressure to points in my back, then had me sit up while he placed smoking balls of some kind of herb (yes, burning and smoking) to various places on my back and on my wrists. My job was to tell him when it felt hot, so he could pluck the smoldering material off my skin, stick a needle in and quickly remove it!

When he asked how I felt, the only thing I could think to say was "like an incense holder? Like a pincushion?"

Totally, utterly weird. Let me be the first to say, if I wasn't in pain and this silliness didn't actually work, I wouldn't give these people the time of day. There was a lot of blah-de-blah about adjusting my "Qi" and letting my body heal itself, but the bottom line was that I walked away without pain, and am once again moving like a normal person, without having to wear ice in my pants.

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We continue our ongoing efforts to get Juli the appointments she needs. She is gradually eating more and has had no further stomach or anxiety problems. (Fingers crossed here).