Gotcha back

All these years,it's been supporting me. Facilitating all sorts of crazy moves and couch potato-ness. The Enabler, if you will. Then it gave out. And it hurts so much. I will never take it for granted again. I speak, of course, of my back [see corny title and go "aaaaah"] I've tried the balms which are an exericse in masochism. I'm doing exercises. Count 1..2..threeeeee oh holy crap that hurts. Repeat for other side. I've had garlic in coconut oil massaged into my back. Years of parental nagging has not been able to acheive what a few days of pain has : a great posture. I sit ramrod straight, shoulders back. Alas, this means no more reading of "The Best of P.G. Wodehouse" and chuckling to myself in the bus. All for a good cause. Wait, I have the radio series of Hitchhiker's Guide that I can transfer to the phone. No threat to the laughing like a crazy person, after all. Phew!
I also use a cushion. I will wrap the big belt with welcro during the bus journeys. Both the belt and the corset cut off blood circulation. However, unlike the corset which is supposed to give one an hour glass figure, the belt makes one a rectangle.
Like if you see a 6 year old's drawing of humans, if the person consists of a pail on top of an inverted pail, that person has a corset on. If the person look like a rectangle, they have the back belt on.
I dont sleep on my side anymore. After a nap, I dont get up like they do in movies and songs -- getting up immediately to the sound of birds chirping or the sunlight falling on the perfectly made up face of the actress. I roll over to the side and use my arm to support my weight. Not dramatic at all, I know. I no longer take my customary if-you-take-long-strides-people-will-think-you know-where-you-are-going. I take small steps, baby steps,even.

I don't know which one of these is actually responsible for reducing the pain or if its a combination of all of the above. I'm not going to conduct control experiments on myself. You're welcome to try. Do let me know the results.

I wanted to segue into a piece on Women's Day. I cant figure out how, though. I guess I'll cheat and use the abrupt "Anyway".

Anyway, Happy Women's Day! Thanks to the women and men who teach children/people around them that Women are no less than Men in any way. Other than in boorishness, perhaps.