on saturday night i was talking to my father (who was on a bus, you could hear the pips of ez-link cards being tapped) and the reception was so bad i hobbled out into the lobby. ordinarily i wouldn't look at advertisements left in our building, but my lobby pereginations led me to a seat right in front of the noticeboard, and as i talked i idly scanned the announcements and notices and all of a sudden i see a large poster from a massage therapist. i've been looking for one for quite some time, and since my recent fall have been keen to redouble efforts in the search. most of the therapists are based in boston though, and what is the use of having to travel into boston and then having to travel home again undoing all the good? i did find one that was within reasonable walking distance from my apartment, in the porter exchange mall, which also offers special weekday student discounts, and i thought i would try them out soon - they look like just what i need. but even porter exchange sounded too far away right now. here was the miracle: to get to this therapist's office, all i need was to cross the street in front of my apartment. and the woman looked like a sound, amiable person, so i rang and made an appointment to see her the following day. a small attic divided into two rooms. one a waiting room, and the other had a massage table, cushions of different shapes and sizes, a small wardrobe of towels and sheets, a writing desk in a corner and a small cd player. we discussed my fall, and decided she would concentrate on my back. i was very comfortable with her, and her massage was mostly swedish with a little acupressure i suppose it was a little less vigorous than i am used to but i suppose this is out of consideration for my back. came home relaxed and loosened and had a hot shower and went to bed early. i felt good all of the next day, even a little sprightly, but by the following morning, alas, it had all gone again. next week i'll go up to porter square to try the other place, which is more of what i had in mind, and on my grocery route.