Life of Wry

My idea of a near perfect Saturday:

I Start the day with the best workout in a loooong time. It was a great workout because this 69-year-old body was about as free of inflammation as I’ve felt in years, thanks to a 6-day course of methylprednisolone, which I took to reduce an inflamed nerve in my tooth, in preparation for yesterday’s pre-implant tooth extraction. (With me here?) The benefit of taking an oral steroid to reduce inflammation in my mouth, was the systemic effect of overall inflammation reduction.. which has resulted in astonishing mobility and flexibility and bendiness. It’s like my teenage self (only a small exaggeration). I may have reported — a couple of months ago — the effect of having taken a 5-day “prednisone burst,” prescribed by my primary to address very stubborn knee inflammation caused by last summer’s traumatizing Dolomites hike. That was a Hail Mary tactic that worked beautifully… but it was child’s play compared to the effects of this week’s steroid. So.. yeah.. started the day with fantastic stretching and yoga and bendiness — positions I haven’t managed in a very long time. Made for an exceptional workout and a fantastic start to the day!

(I have no pictures of this.)

II Then attend a HAND’S OFF rally right here in town. Life in these United States, for the next few years, is going to involve a lot of rage against the regime. In the first 85 days of this corrupt and dangerous administration, that has meant marches, protests and rallies in Sacramento, Ann Arbor, San Luis Obispo, Folsom…. and today: Davis! It’s a sad (and scary) statement about the state of our country, for sure, but it also feels righteous to turn the anger into action. And it’s especially nice to be in solidarity with people from my own town, to listen to members of my own community share their stories, to stand on a corner waving signs just a few blocks from my own house, to get honks of support from people I know.

III Then go listen to some jazz music at my favorite cafe. TH at Cloud Forest Cafe has been organizing a series of live music concerts in the Spring and Fall for a number of years now. This was my first time going and it was just lovely.

IV Then go to Janet’s for dinner. Always nice when someone else does all the cooking! Plus, good company and a post dinner walk around the pond.