Better

My lower back was out of sorts and grumbly all day, a bent-over old codger mumbling complaints about an exhaustive list of aches.  This evening things came to a head.

“Well now…I suppose this pain could have something to do with shoveling snow, lots of heavy snow,” the lumbar vertebrae snipped, obviously irritated.

“I had no choice!” I retorted.  “Would you rather have stayed housebound for days on end?”  My defense was honest but lame.

The backbone sniffled a long sigh as if to say, “That is not my problem.” 

Hmmmmm. I knew it was up to me to reconcile.  “Let’s go outside.”  It was late, 11:00 p.m., and soon would be time for bed. 

The night lay still and black, its inky sky a deep vault sprinkled with star-glitter.  Stark.  Magnificent.

I watched the countless stars, mesmerized by their collective sparkle, as the hot tub bubbled its therapy, probing the distressed spine with finger-massaging water jets.  

We returned inside, both changed for the better – in attitude, if nothing else.  Now it’s 11:30 and time for bed. I think I’m forgiven; maybe my back will let me sleep after all.