Blue Christmas

When I hoisted my extra-heavy suitcase into the overhead compartment of the airplane on Thanksgiving Day, I actually heard something pop in my left shoulder. Hoping that it was just a muscle strain, I cradled my left arm all the way home to Silver City. Two visits to my chiropractor were enough to convince us both that something more was needed to discover what had happened to my shoulder. X-rays revealed nothing broken, but an MRI showed two large tears in one of the muscles of the rotator cuff. Unable to begin therapy until after the holidays, I made do with plenty of ice alternating with heat for several weeks. I didn't feel like decorating our home for the holidays or being very social since my shoulder hurt day and night. Even though it snowed in Silver City for Christmas, I had the winter blues.