dear prudence, why don't you come out to play
the acupuncture office is in downtown santa barbara, at the bottom of the hill from the Mission. heijing moved to southern california from china fourteen years ago and usually treats me. her husband teaches computer science at ucsb. she wears no make up and has just a few long, calm wrinkles on her tight skin. probably in her late forties, although it doesn't matter because she behaves complete enough to be ageless. on my first visit she wrote down in great description the appearance of my tongue and asked me if i get up in the middle of the night to pee. before that, though, she said, "what is your energy level?..." "--High," I cut her off, "... on a scale of one to ten," she finished. "Oh, a ten," I pressed my lips together, embarrassed like a child. "I could sense that from you," she smiled, and I sensed that we liked each other.
the procedure room feels nothing like a procedure room. the walls are pear green. the directors degree is framed and hung off center above the bed. near it is a chinese windchime that doesn't make any noise. in barefeet, i slide into a thin paper smock that rests weightlessly against my fripples. there is a face rest that i lie belly down on, and heijing props my right arm up and out on a stand so they can focus on the pain in my right shoulder. i've had xrays and a mri but for over a year my physicians in both cities have only prescribed me painkillers. my robe slides open in the back, and i can feel a chill where my skin is exposed. to the first appointment i forgot to wear underwear. heijing smiled. the director is a white man who wears pale silk shirts. when he comes in the room to give heijing advice i can feel his eyes scan over my bareback and suddenly become aware of my breathing.
the sessions vary. sometimes, heijing uses blown glass balls with suction cup openings. they stay attached to my skin for over half an hour. all the tension and blood is brought to surface; they leave huge orange size hickies(!) up and down my right back. she always uses acupuncture needles, which hit nerves that make me realize the pain in my shoulder is associated to the balance of my entire body, which she tells me aloud. she has a gentle but firm touch.
they only accept cash or check. it is the only time i ever turn off my cellphone. (okay, fine i just put it on silent.) i go whenever i can afford it. when i am not in that room, i have noticed only a very slight improvement. i feel it negated when i go to work right after and carry big trays of fajitas all night.
in this beautiful weather, i am very calm reading at the isla vista beach. the key is to find a place isolated enough to be productive but close enough to feel surrounded.
the procedure room feels nothing like a procedure room. the walls are pear green. the directors degree is framed and hung off center above the bed. near it is a chinese windchime that doesn't make any noise. in barefeet, i slide into a thin paper smock that rests weightlessly against my fripples. there is a face rest that i lie belly down on, and heijing props my right arm up and out on a stand so they can focus on the pain in my right shoulder. i've had xrays and a mri but for over a year my physicians in both cities have only prescribed me painkillers. my robe slides open in the back, and i can feel a chill where my skin is exposed. to the first appointment i forgot to wear underwear. heijing smiled. the director is a white man who wears pale silk shirts. when he comes in the room to give heijing advice i can feel his eyes scan over my bareback and suddenly become aware of my breathing.
the sessions vary. sometimes, heijing uses blown glass balls with suction cup openings. they stay attached to my skin for over half an hour. all the tension and blood is brought to surface; they leave huge orange size hickies(!) up and down my right back. she always uses acupuncture needles, which hit nerves that make me realize the pain in my shoulder is associated to the balance of my entire body, which she tells me aloud. she has a gentle but firm touch.
they only accept cash or check. it is the only time i ever turn off my cellphone. (okay, fine i just put it on silent.) i go whenever i can afford it. when i am not in that room, i have noticed only a very slight improvement. i feel it negated when i go to work right after and carry big trays of fajitas all night.
in this beautiful weather, i am very calm reading at the isla vista beach. the key is to find a place isolated enough to be productive but close enough to feel surrounded.