J.G. Chayko

There’s a shadowy club whose business is escalating each year. A sketchy welcome mat is positioned at the front entrance. A red glow emanates from hazy windows; curious passer-byes stop and take a peek, unaware of the peril to their health. A number of unlucky patrons will be coaxed to enter. No password is needed….

The summer arrived, bringing a dry heat, a welcome ally to my sore stiff joints. I woke in the mornings with minimal stiffness, enjoying the balmy days with walking and swimming. The old lady withdrew into hibernation, leaving me free of her swelling inflammation. The days stretched out into sultry evenings and my energy improved;…

I interrupt my regular programming to celebrate 10,000 views and my one year anniversary on The Old Lady in My Bones. I wrote my first post on August 6th, 2012. I started this blog to unearth an element of the absurdity in my disease and to help me cope with the challenges it presents. I…

I tucked my list into my purse and strolled to the grocery store to pick up some items for that evening’s supper. I wandered through the bright aisles, list in hand, stopping in front of the spice rack. I was examining prices of several brands of spices when a cluster of blurry lines appeared in…

The murky water of the Grand Canal radiated a cold sensation that floated up from its chilly waters. The boat sat low in the water, muddy waves lapping at the base of the windows.The dampness crawled under my skin, triggering the presence of the old lady; her irritating stiffness clamped down on my joints. We floated…

  The bitter November wind thrust its cold breath towards me, breaching my layers of clothing. Dry flakes drifted down from an overcast sky coating the stone steps with a thin layer of snow. I stood on the ground and gazed up at sharp peaks that looked as if they could pierce the cloud cover….

  The giant apothecary in Beijing’s Chinese College of Medicine rose up before us with hundreds of drawers containing all the herbs necessary for health and wellness. The tour guide led us to the second floor where exam rooms peeked out from the walls. We entered a spacious room where bean bags huddled in the middle…

  The summer solstice delivered rain and overcast skies the first eight days after its arrival. My joints raged against the pressure of dense clouds and damp weather, while the humidity continued to build – when the break finally came, I woke for the first time without swelling, my stiff joints becoming fluid after only…

I huddled under the bus shelter as a cold mist sprinkled down from the sky. The promise of a warm summer day perished under the dense cover of grey clouds. I boarded the bus, wrapping my cold puffy fingers around the metal pole, grumbling at my desperate attempt to remain standing while the bus driver…