But That’s Not What I Heard

 

We purchased one of those hard-shell therapeutic hand massagers with heating positions that looks like it sprang from a cartoon artist’s imagination. Supposedly this kind of device will help alleviate or stave off the Dupuytren contracture condition, making the tendons in my hand swell and causing my ring finger to lock up to the point where it’s difficult to straighten my fingers.

I’ve been placing it on my hand, letting it go through its paces which last about fifteen minutes for each treatment session.  The device is bulky which prevents doing other simple things other than perhaps listening to music or simply closing my eyes for a short pause from the world.

That’s what happened a while ago, taking a short pause from the world; more specifically, taking a Journey to the Center of the Earth, as in the movie made back in 1959.  The explorers were following the information gained from a plumb bob scratched into it and found when a piece of volcanic rock exploded while being examined. The Great Arne Sachnoson (spelling optional) had allegedly gone to the center of the earth, never to be seen again.  These explorers planned to follow his trail.

Near the end of the movie, as the team found a shaft which might be able to take them to the surface, they accidentally awakened a huge lizard monster which threatened their survival.  Here’s where my journey fell in with their journey, my eyes closed as the hand massager hummed away, massaging away the pain in the palm of my hand.

The funny looking device makes a low humming noise, similar to listening to a musical instrument reaching a particular note while warming up.  I remember hearing such a note when our son was playing the Tuba in High School; well, maybe not exactly the same sound.

The one made by the sound effects engineer as the giant lizard monster awakened, that’s the noise I was hearing. I could see the lizard’s eye opening from its deep slumber, wondering if those members of the exploration team would taste good.  They hadn’t noticed the giant lizard, at least not right away as they considered how to get past a rock that was blocking their escape route up the air shaft.

The therapeutic device methodically changed patterns, the humming briefly stopped, then started again with the next form of massage pressure being exerted by the pneumatic finger and palm massage routine. With my eyes shut, still deep within the center of the earth, I knew that sound, the ominous threat becoming more alarming as the giant lizard’s tongue slurped from its mouth.

I won’t spoil the ending to this wonderful movie by telling you what happened next; but I did finish the therapy session and the funny looking device is on the charging cord preparing for the next trip down the rabbit hole.