Tag: Physical Therapy

Downtown, Renewal, and Therapy

Dear Liza,

The day before Thanksgiving, Grandpa Nelson and I went downtown. We always enjoy seeing the busy city, even when the weather is grey and damp.

This time of year, all the trees are getting some sort of decoration, getting ready for Christmas. Some trunks are wrapped with lights, but this one in the South Park blocks had these lighted dingle bangles hanging from it.

Further down on the Park blocks we passed one of my favorite places, the Portland Art Museum. It is an old building, and has been expanded and added onto many times for nearly a hundred years. Its current construction is two buildings being joined together across the courtyard. I leaned through the fence to get a view of the work.

Once the two buildings are joined, (where the Black Lives Matter sign is,) you will be able to easily get from one section of the museum to another. The downside is that lovely tree behind the gap won’t be visible from this side.

Finally, we got to the reason for our trip downtown. Grandpa Nelson had another appointment with Janna for physical therapy, and she showed him some more exercises to make his back and abdomen muscles stronger.

After wandering around some more and enjoying yummy Sesame Donuts, we caught the Magic 15 bus back home for a well deserved rest.

Love,

Grandma Judy

If It’s Physical, It’s Therapy

Dear Liza,

As the saying goes, getting old isn’t for sissies. When we are young, like you, our bodies do what we tell them easily and smoothly. But older muscles get stiff and older bones get brittle, and it takes some work to stay active. Lately, Grandpa Nelson’s back has been bothering him on our long walks, and something needed to be done.

So it was off to the Providence Sports Medicine Center downtown. It is a very bright and busy place, focused on keeping people strong and healthy. It is built into the same building as the Providence Park, where folks go to watch the Timberwolves and Thorns soccer teams play. You can even get a good view of the soccer pitch from the waiting room!

We met Janna, who asked and answered questions and helped Grandpa do some exercises that will help make his back stronger. He did a good job sticking with them, and some even looked fun. You know I’m going to borrow those stretchy rubber band things.

When we had learned how to do the exercises and made an appointment for next week, we headed off. We walked to Pioneer Square, which is called “Portland’s Living Room” and saw that Christmas preparations are already up and running!

The giant Christmas tree is up and waiting for decorations, and even the Christmas tubas are warming up.

I am hoping that with Grandpa’s new exercises, we will be able to do more walking once winter passes and spring gives us some sunshine.

Love,

Grandma Judy