Wednesday, January 9, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 13
Commentary...
Moving differently through the world
By Katy Yoder
Correspondent
I’m going to a doctor
who’s helping me overcome
physical impediments. The
main challenge has been
feeling uncomfortable when
I walk. Since I was young,
I’ve felt awkward when I
walked or ran. I didn’t know
why and didn’t realize it
wasn’t normal to feel that
way. Sometimes people were
cruel about it.
Our farrier told me dur-
ing my teenage years that
I walked like a Swedish
milker. I had no idea what
he was talking about and had
to ask him what he meant.
“They’re the women who
carry two large pales of milk
hung from a wooden yoke
on their shoulders. It swings
back and forth, making them
walk funny.”
I felt the sting of his
words and realized people
noticed how I walked. From
then on, not only did I feel
uncomfortable about the way
I walked, I knew I looked
weird too.
I felt the eyes of people
behind me assessing my
lumbering gait and judg-
ing me. I didn’t like anyone
walking behind me. I tried to
walk better. My best friend
Stephanie suggested that I
swing my arms as I walked.
That felt abnormal, too, but I
tried it anyway.
Stephanie was a runner
and she encouraged me to
come with her. Running felt
unnatural and counterpro-
ductive. I had to work twice
as hard swinging my legs
forward to keep up with her.
Mark Barringer
& Bob Baker
Playing in the
Lounge at
Chops Bistro
( 370 E Cascade Ave.)
I always ended up behind
trying to catch up. She was
understanding and support-
ive, but I finally told her I
hated running and wouldn’t
join her anymore. I was
much more comfortable get-
ting around on my horse.
Topper glided over the
ground totally comfortable
in his chestnut skin. He was
agile, rarely stumbled, and
could jump into a gallop in
an exciting instant. He was
my way to feel graceful and
normal. When I got off, once
again I was an awkward
teenager who looked weird
when she walked.
There were countless
times when I heard snarky
remarks about the way I
walked. I tried to ignore
them, but the shame sliced
deep. Most guys weren’t
interested in me. I assumed
it was partially because of
the way I moved through the
world. I began hunching my
shoulders forward, kept my
head down and tried to mini-
mize time hiking or walking
with friends.
During a party my grand-
mother, in a painful attempt
to help me, forced me to
walk down our long hall-
way with books on my head.
I was mortified. Everyone
watched as I tried to bal-
ance the books and glide like
she could. I’ll never forget
the embarrassment of that
moment. I failed terribly.
The books slammed loudly
on the concrete floor. She
shook her head, unable to
understand why I couldn’t,
“walk like a lady.”
Going to see a chiroprac-
tor back in the 1990s gave
me my first insight into why
I felt so uncomfortable. He
took full X-rays and put
them up for me to see.
“So, have people made
fun of you for the way you
walk?”
I was shocked. He’d
barely seen me move when I
entered the exam room. How
did he know? He showed
me where my right hip was
larger than the left and was
splayed out more than the
other one.
“See that,” he said point-
ing at the image. “You have
to move your right leg out
and around to move forward.
That’s why it feels so unnat-
ural to walk.”
His exam was part of a
health clinic my sister and I
were attending in Southern
California, so he wouldn’t
be able to help me with my
problem. But for the first
time in my life, I didn’t feel
like a loser who walked
funny. There was finally a
reason… and it wasn’t my
fault.
When I got back to
Oregon, I had to focus on
JAN
9
WED
Jan. 26 / Sat / 8 PM
HAPPY
HOUR
MON-FRI 4-7pm
ROCKIN ROBIN’S
KARAOKE NIGHTS!
FRIDAY • SATURDAY
Prime Rib Fridays 5pm!
Come join us!
Come Join the Conversation…
Wildfire, Smoke
& Your Health
175 N. Larch St.
t.
541-549-6114
hardtailsoregon.com
Facebook darcymacey
Hillstomp
7-piece Country Western
dance band performing
classics to contemporary
with a blend of
rockin’ rhythms &
moving ballads.
Feb. 21-24 / Th-Sun
Sisters
One Acts Play
Mar. 16 / Sat
Dr. George Conway,
PRESENTATION &
QUESTIONS/ANSWERS
January 22, 6 to 7 p.m. • Sisters Public Library
Tommy Castro
and the
Painkillers
Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night with Rockin Robin
9 p.m. Every Friday, no cover! For additional information call
541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Cork Cellars Live Music with Cuppa Joe 6:30 to 8:30
p.m. No cover! For information call 541-549-2675 or go
online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night with Rockin Robin
9 p.m. Every Saturday, no cover! For additional information
call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
Stitchin’ Post Spring Class Preview Party 9 a.m. to 2
p.m. See samples, meet instructors and enjoy refreshments.
Call 541-549-6061 for more information.
JAN
Hardtails Bar & Grill Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m.
Every Monday, no cover! For information call 541-549-6114
or go to hardtailsoregon.com.
JAN
Sisters Saloon Trivia Night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is
at 6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday! For additional information
call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
14
MON
15
TUES
JAN
16
WED
Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20.
For information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Mar. 23 / Sat
— featuring —
Director, Deschutes County Public Health
JAN
12
SAT
Feb. 15 / Fri
Dry Canyon
Stampede
Sisters Movie House “Lust for Life” 7 to 9 p.m. Creativity,
Culture & Faith series continues with this movie starring
Kirk Douglas as Vincent Van Gogh. There is no charge for this
event, but tickets are limited. Call 314-740-9857 for info.
Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20.
For information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting
JAN 5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or
go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
10
THUR Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every
Thursday, no cover! For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
11
FRI
Portland junkbox
blues duo brings
memorable
performances that
tap into a magic that
cannot be rehearsed.
without challenges, though.
Once I began changing how
I walked, other parts of my
body began to wake up and
shift position. I realized
making big changes mentally
or physically are never quick
fixes. It takes time, fortitude,
and a positive attitude.
Whether I’m feeling old
anxiety from a painful mem-
ory or pinched nerves from
a body that’s used to doing
things a certain way, I know
if I keep moving forward
and have faith in my ability
to heal, eventually, my mind
and body will catch up with
the new me. It’s exciting,
frustrating and full of hope.
2019 is going to be a good
year!
Entertainment & Events
JAN
Saturday,
Jan. 19
& Mar. 2
6 to 8 p.m.
GREEN FORESTS MATTER
other health challenges and
didn’t’ see anyone about my
awkward gait. Just recently,
I addressed the issue again.
I didn’t go into her office
because of how I walked. I
was dealing with lower back
pain from hours sitting while
writing my book. But when
she assessed my body, she
quickly picked up on my
structural challenges and
offered a solution.
Just like my mental jour-
ney into the past to heal
my present, she provided a
deeper understanding of why
I move through the world the
way I do. She offered a solu-
tion that with time and com-
mitment could change how
I walked. It’s working! Not
The
Brian Odell
Band
PUB OPENS 1 HOUR PRIOR TO SHOWS
BelfryEvents.com
541-815-9122
Cork Cellars Tasty Thursday Hosted Wine Tasting
JAN 5 to 7 p.m. For additional information call 541-549-2675 or
go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com.
17
Sisters
Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every
THUR
Thursday, no cover! For additional information call
541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net.
Events Calendar listings are free to advertisers.
Submit items by 5 p.m. Fridays to lisa@nuggetnews.com
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