On a Sunday afternoon I was in a dark, cozy, cavernous room in Portland’s outer southeast Lents neighborhood putting acupuncture needles in a patient. He was jovial despite chronic pain from a bad accident years ago. “How’s your weekend?” he asked, and then hastiliy added, “Oh, I guess you don’t really get a weekend since you’re working today.” He looked at me apologetically, as if I might be offended, having been reminded that I was working on what is most people’s day of rest. “Well, I’ve had a six-month weekend,” I smiled back. Continue reading →