July 12, 2026

Thoughts

We’re flush into Summer now, having braved temperatures of 117 degrees just a few days ago. Not much moves when it’s that hot, but we had to drive an hour and a half off the mountaintop to a vascular examination, all meant to rule that out. Rule what out, you’re asking? Rule out vascular disease as a source for the constant discomfort caused by my spinal stenosis. I say discomfort but what I really mean is outright screaming shots of pain. Be brave, you say. Doin’ my best, Bro, doin’ my best, but t’ain’t easy.

I take solace where I always do. Our house has a wrap-around screen porch that both protects us from the elements and plops us in the midst of them. The other day I was cooking on the porch - my ancient kettle cooker battered but still operative - awaiting the advent of heavy winds. They came on, banshees screaming. I was not prepared for their power, was certain ancient trees would be uprooted. Their massive crowns whipped back and forth. I was mesmerized. Riveted. Rapt. It lasted long enough to make me wonder when it would ever stop, long enough to take my mind off the meat and burn the steaks but good. Burnt steaks? Solace? For the entirety of the storm my mind was on nothing but that storm - my mind, my senses, the entirety of my attention - I felt no pain. I didn’t know I felt no pain. I just didn’t. Whatever clicks off pain clicked it off. I was enthralled. Wherever pain goes when you don’t feel it, it went there. Much obliged.