Dangerman (even though, of course, he is very strong and very brave) was so scared about his doctor's checkup yesterday that he was babbling. It has been something like five months since he got mixed up with a tank in Iraq and had his back broken. He has been in a rigid brace since, and yesterday they were going to tell him whether it had healed properly or whether he would have to have spinal surgery.
The doc said it was ok, and that he could begin "weaning" himself from the brace and doing physical therapy. After all that time, he can no longer bend. But at least he won't break.
He and The Artist Known As Chang came over. TAKAC said that Dangerman had changed his life with one remark. After visiting a totaliatarian state that routinely searched his belongings and monitored his activities, TAKAC was shaken and paranoid. "They have no power over you that you have not given them," Dangerman, who has been in such situations a lot, told him. "You have ceded them the power." TAKAC thought about that. Dangerman was right. TAKAC took back the power and straightened his spine.
And ate all the grapes in the refrigerator.
fair warning: on block island or manhattan or in missouri, we can be a little salty
PS
ReplyDeleteBaby got back--not baby backpacks! Jeez, Google. Let's try again: back braces, spinal tap, prosthetic devices, hospitals, physical therapists, totalitarian nations, spies, lawyers, guns, money, artists, photographers, grapes.
omigod! it worked!
ReplyDelete