Acu-what? 06/19/26

It makes sense, right? I mean you’ve got a chronic pain somewhere, the knee, the back and for me the neck (I know there are many that consider me a pain in the neck but I actually have a pain in the neck.) It makes sense when you are suffering to seek somebody out who will stick multiple pins in you to help you to feel better. In the hands of the right person, it actually works. But the practice is weird enough to make a 3-comic series out of it. All the misconceptions from people who have never done it (like John) to people who have done it (like me). Sure they stick needles around my neck area, but also in my thigh, the side of my hand, my ankle and god knows where else (no, not there.) The needles block the pain from the nerve to reach the brain, or something like that. As a now experienced acupuncture recipient I do have this one bit of advice: do not roll over onto your back. Like ever.

How did this chronic pain in the neck happen? I was 24 years old, in other words, as Don McLean once famously sang, “A long, long time ago.” I was starting my first job in advertising in 7/7/77 and NW Ayer, Chicago. I was so excited (and very nervous) so when they asked me one day, “You wanna play on our softball team?” I jumped at the chance. I had to work right up until it was time to leave for the game. When I got there they asked me if I wanted to play in the infield or outfield, and I immediately chose infield because 1) I’m better at that and 2) I have trouble catching fly balls. One thing you should know about Chicago softball, they don’t use mitts. Nope, they play with a larger ball (16-inch circumference vs the usual 12-inch) so after a couple of batters hit it, it becomes progressively softer. I get there without warming up, but hey, I’m 24. And they put me at third base. The very first ball is a hard shot right at me, I catch it and it hurts, but I’m not gonna yell “oww” because I’m a dumb 24-year old. Instead I was going to show them how strong a throwing arm I had. I threw a laser beam to first base. The only trouble is that it was eight feet over the first baseman’s head. Immediately upon letting the ball go I felt something tear in my right rotator cuff and it still bothers me almost 50 years later. In fact, it hurts even writing about it. And to set the record straight, I’m way better at second base and it’s a much, much shorter throw.

So that’s it for writing about acupuncture (one more comic next week), I have to run to my appointment today. The acupuncturist is going to open my bladder channel in order to relieve my neck pain. Don’t ask, but do have a great weekend,

Andy and John