Exorcizing Arthritis

North Miami Beach, FL February 19, 2001
Aaron H. Schectman

THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then, Opinions pro or con are welcome.
EXORCISING ARTHRITIS

And, why not? Why not exorcise arthritis while exercising? In our hot
pool (way too hot last Wednesday and Friday mornings) we work out and follow
our leader in moving arms, legs, bodies and heads. We do this in time to
the music of our leader's choice and he likes the oldies of Rhythm and
Blues. He also likes Gospel which also gets you into a ritual frame of mind.

It is much easier to walk and to shake the body parts in water. The hot
water facilitates movement that is much harder on land while fighting
gravity. The water floats you and while you move more slowly you move more
readily - at least so it is reported by my pool mates.

There are as many as 12 of us at a time when we collect for the first class
each morning on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It has occurred to us that
this exercise is good for us. Despite being unwilling to start many of us
look forward to the day and the days ahead because we made ourselves get
going.

It occurred to me that our rhythms and movements were like a ritual and I
thought that if we harnessed our minds and wills we could exorcise our chief
pains in a collective way. The problem is in agreeing which rite to adopt.
I favor the old Druid way of doing things. There is a verse in an old song
that says it this way.

(Chorus)
Give me that old time Religion (three times)
It's good enough for me.

We will pray with those old Druids
Who drink fermented fluids
While waltzing naked through the wooids
That's good enough for me. (Chorus)

What do you think? Carol's Evaluation:10 out of 10. Carol sez: "We do not
exercise naked!"