There are lots of things my parent’s have passed down simply by contributing to my DNA. I have my mom’s nose and smile. I got my dad’s lips and gray hair.
I love that I’m not completely my own person. I’ve been created and reared by two amazing people. But my parents aren’t perfect, and I have some of those imperfections too.
Example?
My dad has a bad back. He’s had several problems over the years. In his 20s and 30s the injuries were the result of foolishness and poor judgment (or being drunk). He tried to move a couch, and threw out his back. He got thrown off a raft while exploring the Kern River and the was thrown against a boulder. That wasn’t good either. My dad is now well into middle age. He’s 53 years old, and his body knows it. A few months ago, I found him lying in bed on a nice Sunday afternoon. Earlier in the morning he had hurt his back as he reached to one side of his closet to pick out a tie. I’m a horrible daughter. I laughed at how ridiculous it was that my dad hurt himself while picking out a tie.
My back issues today are probably punishment for laughing that day. I have no clue how I hurt my lower back today. I was fine when I woke up, showered and got ready, but as I left for class I felt a sore pain in my lower left back. I decided to tough it out and go to class. In class, I shifted seat as we did check-ins and the pain got more intense. I made a face and my classmate asked what was wrong. I left campus later thinking of how much I’d love to be able to see Grandpa, who was a well known sobador in Boyle Heights, and have him fix whatever is wrong. He’d probably give me lots of advice and then say, “eres igual a tú papá.”
I can’t go to Grandpa and have him give me a quick sobada. I called my mom and asked her advice. She said I might have aire in my back and told me about the time Grandpa treated her for that (it’s hard to describe, but he used a glass, rubbing alcohol and a match).
I do have my dad. He’s on his way to my apartment as I write this. The pain is too much. I’m glad he doesn’t remember that I laughed at him.
Me dad knows how to treat for aire in the back. He did that for mum awhile back and recently on my brother. Crazy. Brian never really believed me when I told him he may have aire in his back whenever he’d get crazy backpains for no apparent reason. I wonder how it gets trapped in there anyways…
CIndylu, I hope your back feels better soon. Aire sucks. Whenever I have aire I rub vapurú on the area that hurts. I heart vapurú.
your dad probably does remember that you laughed at him that day, but the great thing about good parents is their unconditional love.
I think “aire in the back” is one of those made up things mexicans love to invent, it’s maybe just a sore muscle, it does happen randomly. I did lots of heavy lifting at my last job, and even with proper precautions, I would still get hurt, but the symptoms only show up about a day later. If your dad doesn’t have the magic touch like your abuelo, i can get you the number for these people: Hueseros Profesionales!
Hi there! I found your blog again and it’s such a sweet read to remind me of home!
Anyway, I wonder if what your mom is talking about with the cup is anything like Chinese cupping, which is an ancient Chinese therapuetic ordeal where you lie on your belly and the practioner llights up a flame into an upside-down glass cup to seal it (something about the fire and needing oxygen in the cub, I dunno, I didn’t do that great in Chemistry class) and then it’s placed on your back and SUCKS there. I’m probably making zero sense, but just google “Chinese cupping” and check out the images, you’ll get the idea.
You might also wanna look into see a chiropractor or an accupunturist. I totally believe in accupuncture because it totally straightens out your Qi and all the enery in your body is so much better for it. All these recs for chinese medicine isn’t because I’m living in China right now, as a matter of fact I would never let a chinese accupunture needle touch me (COOTIE-RAMA!), but I did it in Portland where they have these great non-profit clinics.
Good luck with it!
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