Oil can
Moving parts in rubbing contact
require lubrication to avoid excessive wear.
Honorifics and formal politeness
provide lubrication where people rub together.
Often the very young, the untravelled, the naive,
the sophisticated deplore these formalities as
’empty,’ ‘meaningless,’ or ‘dishonest,’
and scorn to use them.
No matter how ‘pure’ their motives,
they thereby throw sand into machinery
that does not work too well at best.
— Robert A. Heinlein
A couple of years after graduating from the Amherst Feldenkrais Teacher Training program, I landed my first gig working as a Feldenkrais Teacher in a physical therapy clinic.
The two brothers who ran the place, Rod and Murray Fleming, gave me the opportunity to work with a diverse group of individuals. Many of them would otherwise never have heard of the method, which, after all, was mostly unknown in the mid-1980s. Over the years, I introduced Moshe’s methodology to folks of all ages and from all walks of life, helping them with a vast range of neurological and orthopedic challenges.
At the end of one lesson, the student commented on how differently he felt. He said, “At the beginning of the session, I was incredibly stiff and creaky. I could hardly bend over to take my shoes off. Now, I can touch my toes without a hitch. My movements are so easy and comfortable. I feel well-lubricated.”
His experience reminded him of the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz. When Dorothy and Scarecrow came upon the Tin Man, he pleaded, “Oil can,” prompting them to squirt grease into his rusted joints and restore his mobility. “That’s exactly how I feel now!” he exclaimed.
The next time I came to work, I discovered a movie poster of the Tin Man affixed to my office door. Someone had added a cartoon bubble coming from his mouth, with the words, “Oil can inside.”
One of my neighbors created a Wizard of Oz wonderland in her yard for Halloween this year. I snapped the photo above because her portrayal of the Tin Man prompted me to recall the story and inspired today’s blog post.
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Good one. I do enjoy your posts.
Are you home, enjoying all this free water falling out of the sky?
Thanks, Carol. I’m gald you enjoy my posts.
Yes, I’m enjoying this rainy autumn day.
What a wonderful story! I had my right knee replaced (outpatient!!) a month ago and I’m cruising around happily with almost complete range of movement. Great work in the hospital but the oil can technician is Lindy, who seems to be able to grease up anything that needs lubrication. Hooray and thanks to Feldenkrais method and teachers.
Glad you liked the story, Fayal.
Congrats on your new knee! You’re i great hands with Lindy as your Feldenkrais teacher.
Take good care,
Larry
hey Larry, when I was trying to set up a practice in Montreal in the late 80s, I created a small newspaper ad with the headline, “Give yourself a lube job,” or “give your body a lube job.” Somehow I was advised by my friends not to post this ad, so it remains an untapped potential source of new clients… ☺️ Alan
Hey Alan –
I’m still laughing.
Thanks for sharing this story . . . Glad you have such wise friends.
Ha! I love this story! I have often thought of our work in the oil-can to Tin Man context. Makes me wonder if you planted that seed by telling this story back in my training. Also *love* the Heinlein quote.
I was saving reading your blog as a treat for when I finished doing a particularly difficult job. It’s done! And now I get to sleep with the warm feeling of good stories that capture some of the richness, potency and pleasure of key elements of my life. Thank you!
You’re most welcome, Moira.
Unfortunately, I don’t remember whether I told this story during your training.
I’m glad you enjoyed the stroy and the Heinlein quote. (I doubt that I would have appreciated it in my younger days, but it sure rings true now!)
Sweet dreams.