I'm taking a minute for reflection before I go to work. I spent some time under the hands of my physical therapist today and he did a masterful job on my poor overworked neck. I played basketball yesterday and really wrung myself out and this morning I was in a permanent shrug, with strong Yertle the Turtle style neck thrusting. All my tendons contracted and refused to budge. Nate took care of that. Good man!

He won't tell me not to play basketball either. I think he figures the lack of mobility the next day is its own consequence. I'm so happy to be able to expend strenuous energy again, I'm probably overdoing it. Okay, I AM overdoing it. I had grown very fond of doing something very physical and then feeling the warm, achy glow of having done so. My endorphins battled my darker parts as well as anything can. I'm willing to ache for this. Besides, today's ache is nothing. I haven't taken my opioid in days, and today I haven't even had a Tylenol yet. Just me and my old creaky body! Just like old times.

Almost.