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Work 4 Peace,Hold All Life Sacred,Eliminate Violence! I am on my mobile version of the door-to-door, going town-to-town holding readings/gatherings/discussions of my book "But What Can I Do?" This is my often neglected blog mostly about my travels since 9/11 as I engage in dialogue and actions. It is steaming with my opinions, insights, analyses toward that end of holding all life sacred, dismantling the empire and eliminating violence while creating the society we want ALL to thrive in

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Pain Pain Pain

Oy vey - I've dislocated my shoulder. Talk about pain - this should be the WORST pain I'll ever have in my life...

I've returned to California for a hot minute, only to get home to see one of my posters taken off the wall. I decide to hang it up in the kitchen, over my "Fight the Religious Right" sign, almost to the ceiling.

I straddle the area, placing one foot on a shelf about 4 feet up in the air, the other foot against the wall. I've seen a small black spot that I think is a hole but when I get up there & try to put the nail into it, I discover it is just a spot of dirt.

I twist around, looking for something to hammer the nail into the wall. I do think about getting down and finding something but decide to see if I can use a can or something on the kitchen shelf.

My foot slips and I slam into the wall on my right side, unable to stop my descent to the ground. My shoulder is twisted and I am in soooooo much pain.

My young roommate takes me to the hospital, thank the goddesses. I crumble in the waiting room, unable to sit on the chair, unable to lie down on the floor. The nurse comes out immediately and helps me into the exam room, reassuring me that a doc who is a shoulder specialist is on duty tonite.

A young Asian doctor comes in and I ask him between moans of pain, if I need a shot of whiskey in order for him to slam my shoulder back in place - I have read a lot of novels and even seen some movies. He tells me that is an old outdated AMA practice and he is going to try to gently ease my shoulder back into place.

He takes my hand, extends the bottom half of my arm, while he massages my shoulder and begins to slowly move my arm like the slow hand of a clock. Suddenly, when my arm is about half way between both sides, my shoulder pops into place and the relief is instant.

I am still sore, in pain but NOTHING like it was. I get wheeled into x-ray and my arm and shoulder are gently x-rayed revealing no broken bones, thank the goddesses.

Within 35 minutes, I've been to the hospital emergency room, seen the doctor, been x-rayed and given a sling, told I need to wear the sling for 6 weeks, and released home again.

Yeah for Alta Bates and Obamacare!!!!