I give thanks that, this summer, temperatures in West Los Angeles did not rise into the upper nineties (Fahrenheit) and more. While I enjoy the privilege of staying indoors during the hottest parts of the day, there were times I had to brave the heat for medical visits. On August 19th, I also began weekly sessions of physical therapy for what my young new doctor determined, after X-rays of my knees and ankles, is osteoarthritis. Thankfully, on my return trip home around 11:15 a.m. after my physical therapy session, I can take refuge from the heat under a tree near to the bus stop. What’s more, I stay hydrated with coconut water.

After a year of suffering with intense pain in my heels after an hour’s walk, I now know the cause and I’m getting help to strengthen the muscles in my hips, glutes, and thighs. Except for a setback after doing 30 repetitions of squats during my third session—now reduced to ten—I’m making progress. Last weekend, for the first time in a long while, I did not have to limp indoors with aching feet after just two hours of gardening.