Working on my 'pain' vocabulary: Aching-Cramping-Fearful-Gnawing-Heavy-Hot-Burning-Sharp-Shooting-Sickening-Splitting-Stabbing-Punishing-Cruel-Tender-Throbbing-Tiring, and Exhausting!

Not our choir, used for illustration only.

Here we go again. Old people on the move. Ha! Today, Thursday, June 25, 2026, our old people choir, (Legacy Choir, if you will.), will be singing some patriotic tunes at two of the large hospitals here in this area. Instead of turning chairs, we hope we will see folks pausing to reflect on the profound blessings we enjoy as Americans, including some of those busy professionals wearing white coats. But, first things first. Early this morning, I return to the torture chamber for an hour's worth of pain and suffering. I tried to think up a nickname for the very physical pleasant therapist who manages the mechanisms and instruments of cruelty. Yes. I know. That is a beyond the pale description. (The English Pale (Ireland): A fortified area in medieval Ireland directly under the control of the English Crown. Venturing "beyond the pale" meant stepping outside the protection of English law into uncontrolled, unpredictable territory.) But, I did put it that way intentionally to make my point. You can make up a song about 'no pain, no gain', but, so far I'm not buying it. And, lest you get the wrong idea, I do greatly appreciate the young lady who has spent seven years of her life preparing to make old people like me be as miserable as possible. Why? Their plan typically works and progress wins the day. Need I open the envelope and read what my profile says: I am not typical. Back to the nickname. She's not a bully per se because she always speaks is very encouraging and soothing terms. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I said earlier and she continues to wear me down with her constant question, "Does that make sense?" I've participated in a number of active listening courses during my managing people years, and questioning is a major part of getting buy in, but, repetition just doesn't do it for my not typical self. Are you with me? Sorry. I couldn't resist. Okay. I'll go with this one, but it's a working name in progress, and, it's just between us: Madam Diabolical. Ha!

 

I have written stuff in the past tongue in cheek that some of my wonderful readers took literally.  ( "Tongue in cheek" is an idiom that describes a statement or action that is humorous, sarcastic, or insincere, but is delivered with a completely serious expression. It is meant to be understood as a joke rather than taken literally, often relying on irony or exaggeration.) This means I'm certainly not trying to give this young woman a bad rap or a negative review. Not at all. I tell her all the time, she has seven years to prove she knows what she is doing and I have only that stupid chart on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being unbearable pain, what level are you now? I often refuse to try and rate my pain. I might just take the chart above with me and we can read it together. Ha! Here's the rub. Figuratively, and, literally: I need some strong medication or perhaps anesthesia in order to continue the current physical therapy regimen. However, they don't like giving old people the really good stuff because we might fall. The song puts it this way:

 

Tomorrow, tomorrow!
I love ya tomorrow!
You're always
A day
Away!

 

Lord willing and I am able, that's when I visit my orthopedic who is a week late in helping me, or, that's the way I see it. Again, Ha! Y'all have a blessed day and may God add His blessings. Amen.