Bodacious Boomer

Here I am still sitting at the Motel 6. Right now, Doug is speaking to his new boss at the Census. Everyone hired had to go in before starting work for a quick face-to-face. His face was due there today at 11am. I took the same test yesterday. I’m awaiting my score. Doug got a 19- out of 29 when he took the test to be a supervisor. I’m not really sure how I did on the test. The questions were very subjective. I hope I did well. I thought about saying that I was a lesbian amputee with a learning disability; but I didn’t. Of course if they’re looking for a zaftig, forgetful, baby boomer who can talk up a storm, then I’m their girl woman.

I didn’t sleep well the night before the test. My shoulder hurt bad enough that I was crying from the pain and actually had Doug get a Vicodin for me, sometime after midnight. I finally got to sleep, but it was late. And when I went to take the test yesterday I was still in a semi-fog.

My shoulder feels good today even though I haven’t taken any meds. I was a human pincushion again yesterday. I had acupuncture. I hadn’t had it done in a few years. I checked online and found someone who had a ton of letters behind their name, meaning they’d been certified to do it. Anyway, I assumed I’d be treated by some older Chinese person. When I got there I met Sung. (I think he was about Brett’s age). He said he’d been treating people for 3 years.

I had to fill out a detailed medical history. Then he took my pulse and looked at my tongue. He examined my shoulder and checked it’s mobility. After that I laid back, (clothes on) and he started putting in the needles. For those who haven’t had it before, I assure you, it does not hurt. When they insert a needle it feels like a tap, not like a needle stick. For the pain in my shoulder he put the needles in the top of my foot and on my shins. I find that bizarre. Before he left the room the hooked up thin wires to some of the needles. (I thought of John Coffey in The Green Mile). Then Sung started turning up the dial until I could feel a vibration. It still didn’t hurt, by the way. After that he dimmed the lights, turned up some flute music and left the room.

Twenty minutes later I was done. I didn’t have instant relief. However, I’ve only experienced that one time. Usually about the time I’m ready for bed is when my shoulder really starts to hurt- that is unless I’ve been abusing it by face painting that day. I kept waiting for the pain to come last night, but it never did. I was even able to lay on my right side in bed; something I haven’t been able to do for a long time.

That was the best $60 I’ve spent in I can’t remember when. It’s been almost 24 hours now and I’m still pain-free. I know some people think they need to go to an MD for this. However I never have and I’ve always had good results. The MD’s office I checked with yesterday said their appts. are $150. I think the main thing is to make sure the practitioner has been properly trained and certified.

Now you have my $0.02- for what’s it worth.