Like a Turtle

June 3, 2026Monday morning, I woke up with a stiff neck for the first time in many months. The knots under my shoulder blades and across the top of my shoulders were tighter than usual, and it hurt to move in certain directions. Oh, how often I’ve longed for a heron neck with length and suppleness!My immediate thought was, “What did I do?” I half-heartedly said something about sleeping wrong, but I knew that wasn’t it. I thought about what I had done the day before, but nothing jumped out at me.Look who’s back in the same nesting spot as last year! Ah, I hope I get to watch this prothonotary warbler for a while. His song is as beautiful as his feathers.For some context, pain in this area has plagued me off and on for decades. I remember having tight shoulders when I was twelve. I’ve done a lot to try to fix it, largely involving releasing trigger points, trying new pillows, applying heat, getting chiropractic adjustments, and strengthening the surrounding muscles. They sometimes seem…