Blind Massage

Joy is growing bigger and heavier and we have to climb up to the sixth floor. She likes to wiggle around and tries to slip down from our arms to climb the stairs on her own. It’s a receipe for back pain. GaoYan’s back muscles tightened up to where she could not move. When she walked pain shot through her back and legs.

Some ladies in the neighborhood had taken GaoYan, just a week earlier, to a blind massage therapist. We gently eased into the car and went back again. Across from the market you turn right into a little alley then make a left into a tiny littler alley. The assistant saw us limping along, a surprised look came to his face, and he ran to open the door. “Slowly, slowly, take it easy.” GaoYan sat down on the massage table, and I tried to help take her jacket off. “No, no. Let her do it,” the assistant stopped me.

Then the Therapist entered the room. He had served in the army as a massage therapist. His sunglasses and hair cut reminded me of Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Very confidently he moved around never feeling for tables or bumping into anything. The attitude in the shop was strict and organized. The Therapist went right to work strongly massaging GaoYan’s back.

“Yes, the pain is right there. Will I be able to walk today?”
“Yes,” the Therapist grabbed the opposite side of the table for leverage and drilled his elbow into GaoYan’s back as if intending to break up a chunk of concrete. GaoYan screamed out in pain. “Your back is cold. You don’t have enough 气 (energy flow) in your body.” His life size picture advertisement looked like a kung fu master. Massaging her knees he observed “You have a cold. Are your knees sour?”
Finally, the assistant held down her legs while the Therapist held her shoulders and twisted GaoYan’s back in the direction of those curly slides at the playground. “Pop, Pop.” The Therapist announced “好 (Good)” and waved his hand partly like a military salute and partly like I’ve healed you and I’m finished with the massage.

The massage lasted nearly an hour. GaoYan rested a lot, moved slowly, and her muscles were tight for several more days, but no more severe pain. I’m thankful to have my Sweetie up moving around again.