Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Angels and Demons

I have been down and out with a bad back these last few days. Watching the second season of Nurse Jackie, getting lost in the looping sentences of TC Boyle, keeping an eye on Spring Training.

Events have been unsettling here at Casa de la Clowncar as of late. Nothing to fret about, nothing we can't handle, but at one point I had an image of myself standing in the center of our living room, swinging a torch, keeping demons at bay. Predators lurking at the edge of the shadows.

So. I had a choice between going to a doctor and going to a chiropractor for my back. Equally skeptical of Western and Eastern medicine, I've been to both in the past, they both did the trick. But the chiropractor is in the neighborhood, I walk past her office daily. And, that keeping-demons-at-bay image has been in the forefront of my mind, and I kept thinking of the criminally underrated movie Jacob's Ladder, the literally angelic chiropractor who teaches Jacob the true purpose of hell.
"The only thing that burns in hell, Is the part of you that won't let go of your life. Your memories, your attachements, They burn 'em all away. But they're not punishing you. They're freeing your soul. If your frightened of dying, and your holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. If you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth."
There's a clip, but you can't embed it. Here, go watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSzs4V6tkJQ

I went to the chiropractor. Haven't yet turned those demons into angels. But my back feels better.

5 comments:

Gwil W said...

Bad back. Check your weight, most people who have bad backs are carrying too much belly in front or have a too sedentary lifestyle. There's an exercise - the basic Tai Chi 'Horse Stance'. Every strength comes from the back. Get the back right, and the rest will follow.

Hilary said...

Poor you.. I hope you're feeling much better before too long.

John Romeo Alpha said...

Hope your back improves soon Mr. Clowncar. Direct application of ice to the affected part is what helps my back when it catches fire, but then we are all put together differently.

Unknown said...

I'll keep my memories, thanks. I worked hard for them.

Clowncar said...

Gwil, I'd kill for a sedentary lifestyle. my problem is not being aable to give it a real rest.

Hil, I said in the post not to fret. and here you are fretting. We'll be fine.

Ice, heat and books seemed to do the trick John.

Ms. Dancehall, memories are the true afterlife. memories and art.