We end up together in a small room and I listen.
It goes like this: a person comes in, and they speak a stream of images regarding their condition. First, they might say, “COW BUCKET WINDOW BREAD SUN ECHO.” And I say, “oh, ok…,” and I address this list.
The subject is aches and pains, upset and strains. Improving health and wellness is the goal.
Later, they come back and say, “FLY SHOE CAT WATERFALL LAMP.” I say, “oh, ok., sure. How is COW BUCKET WINDOW BREAD SUN ECHO?” They say “oh, yah, I guess the same? Yah, that too.” They say, “I guess all of it. It moves around and sometimes its RAINBOW SONG FLEA CHIPMUNK. And other times it’s BELLOW TACO SHITZU WALLA WALLA, and the medications help but also cause a confusing blend of all things so I was hoping you could make those better and also remember the list for me as I may forget it later when I am processing SUGAR CORNMEAL SODA BUGS LOSS FORGETTING PANCAKES OF DISAPPOINTMENT.”
Ok, I say, “just rest here and I got this.”
When I ask about exercising they might say:
“I want to but I live out of town where the ground is up and down and in the middle of a highway with trees that can knock you down and ditches that will trip up leg garters along the way.”
“I want to go swimming laps but the only night that I want to go is when it’s octopus free swim and I am not comfortable with octopuses because they can go in any direction.”
“I used to ricochet and jump between varicose swells of matter when I felt weightless. That was the last time I was pain free.”
“I am waiting to start when a picnic appears on the 3rd Sunday attended by all of my favorite pies. By then my new outlook will have arrived and if I wait it out I’m sure it will feel wonderful.”
There was a specific case of Buffalo Hiccups. This was an integrated case, a complex blend of western and eastern pathologies.
She shared her story which was, “I got buffalo hiccups that began in the lower jiao of the triple burner, or as it is said in the west, the large intestine. They rise up, as rebellious chi tends to do, which for me sounds like a banjo chicken band that I hear ringing in my ears to the beat of blood stasis, an eastern term that means cell sludge in some circles.”
Silence brings questions of what is considered normal.
“I feel like my arms trade places once I settle down. Is this normal?”
“I see all the colors when I close my eyes. Is this normal?”
Contentement is elusive.
“Becoming relaxed makes me anxious.”
On healing:
“Prepare to be uncomfortable.”
“Don’t for heaven’s sake, be afraid of talking nonsense! But you must pay attention to your nonsense.” -Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian- born philosopher.