He's A Magic Man

There's no way around it: Getting old is not for the faint of heart. Of course, it helps to be mindful and to remember your morning flax seed, but after the big 4-0, sometimes the body just doesn't choose to cooperate.

For the last three weeks, I have been a dutiful wife listening to the gripes and groans from the hubby who has been dealing with a very painful pinched nerve in his neck. Was it the impromptu beach volleyball game? The morning stand up paddle surf session? The wrong pillow, perhaps?

So, week one he tries the massages; week two the chiropractor and week three some x-rays were taken. Along the way, several of our friends insisted that David see a Balinese healer. "You know, an old blind one that can cure anything," whispered our neighbor.

The most famous Balinese healer is Ketut Liyer of Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love" fame and he is still alive and well in Ubud enjoying much success as a sought after medicine man. We were open to suggestions from our friends as to whom we should contact for help, but mysteriously, no one could provide us with a name or number. I finally came to the conclusion that we couldn't seek the healer; he would have to find us.

Now the Bali motto "expect the unexpected" comes into play. Last Wednesday, we visit the home of Diamond Head Road model, Melati Erhart, to talk shop. She says her hip has been bothering her for the last couple of years and that her healer is coming over shortly to perform an exorcism of sorts. My ears perk up. An exorcism on my husband sounds exactly like what he needs!

Abdul arrives and takes David into the guest bale (bah-lay) to diagnose the problem, pinpointing the exact excruciating spot that has been causing all of the sleepless nights. Melati translates while he pokes and prods and then gets down to work. I excuse myself to eat some lunch and hear the yelps and screams coming from the guest house as Abdul physically lifts the tendons up from below David's left shoulder blade.

David emerges to say he has just endured the most painful massage of his life. Abdul follows close behind with an ancient Balinese herbal remedy called jamu which is a potent brown mixture chock full of ginger and local honey from his village. Abdul winks at us as Melati translates that the traditional cure-all drink will not only help heal David's neck but will also give his virility a big boost.

Not exactly the kind of exorcism I had in mind, but it's all about the baby steps, right?