A Hitch in My Getalong

All weekend I’ve been troubled by a stitch in my side. Feels like a horse kicked my left kidney. Saturday, I laid trail for my Hash House Harrier group. The stitch was unpleasant, but I walked it off after the first mile and apart from some stiffness I felt okay. Sunday was horrible, though – I could barely walk, the upper part of my body twisted to the right to lessen the pain, from the car to Border’s Books. When I woke up today, Monday, I thought I was back to normal, but then I hiked up a mountain path to a cave – mama mia! I’m calling the doctor tomorrow. Hope I don’t have a kidney stone or anything like that!

Taking advantage of Presidents’ Day, my friend Angie and I rode down to the Coronado National Memorial, just southwest of Sierra Vista. Coronado Cave is small but pure – no guided tours, no guardrails, no lighting. You have to check in at the visitor center before hiking up to the cave, then check out when you hike back down – and you have to carry a flashlight so you can find your way around inside the cave. I hope to hike back up someday when that damn stitch is gone.

Speaking of Coronado, I was flat-assed amazed to learn that he went all the way to what is now Kansas, searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola. I really have to read more!

By the way, Presidents’ Day? The Office of Personnel Management still calls it Washington’s Birthday, and they’re the official keepers of federal holidays. And while we’re at it, note that apostrophe – if this upstart holiday is really supposed to count for both Washington and Lincoln, it’s Presidents’ Day, not President’s Day. Suppose they’d get that right at the White House home page? Suppose again. Hey, I swear, half an hour ago the White House page said “President’s Day” but now it says “Presidents’ Day – I guess someone is reading my blog after all!