My eleven year-old audio-engineer son, Logan, and I just returned home from an amazing weekend in New Jersey after taking our Spinal Column Radio podcast studio on the road.  Marking our third time now to the long-standing New Beginnings Chiropractic Philosophy Weekends, we were invited to interview over twenty-one fantastic chiropractors, cover a 60 minute speed coaching event, and conduct a battery of “man on the street” interviews.  By all measures it was a successful weekend!  And then it was time for us to come home.  And to do so we had a battle on our hands.

Now before I continue with the story, it’s important that you appreciate something.  In chiropractic we operate off the foundational premise that our bodies are self-healing and self-regulating.  It’s how we were designed by God.  And it’s this “special something” that He imputed into us that we chiropractors recognize as the “Intelligence” of the body.  We call it Innate Intelligence.  Sometimes we will truncate it and simply refer to it as “Innate” — or even more succinctly with the letter “N” and the numeral “8”:  N8.  Our job as chiropractors is to make sure this Innate Intelligence is able to fully express itself without interference or interruption.  Because it is then that optimal living can be fully realized.  So you’ll understand when I tell you that when I think of N8, I think of God.

Back to our story.  Returning from our podcast weekend in New Jersey was no easy feat as the Eastern Seaboard was up against an early winter storm — a storm that captured the attention of television stations up and down the coast.  Would we be able to make the drive to the airport?  And if we did, would we even be able to take off?   Would we ever make it home?

With an hour’s drive (in good weather) ahead of us we battled 40 mile per hour winds, dropping temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and sheets of ice.  There were downed limbs and power outages.  Our non-stop flight was delayed and, because of the weather, had to stop in Chicago to pick up another crew member.  More delays.  Then we hit turbulence… the kind that makes you want to lose your lunch.  I tell you all of this not to gain sympathy, but to impress upon you that getting home was difficult.  It was work.

I breathed a sigh of relief as our plane touched down in Seattle.  It felt good knowing that we had made it — safe and sound. With so many intense variables in our journey home, one wrong move could have told a different story.  But yet, we made it.  And then it all became blatantly clear as our plane came to a stop… at, none other than, gate N8.

The chiropractic profession has created a contest for us chiropractors!  …And yours truly has decided to throw his hat in the ring on behalf of Spinal Column Radio.

The challenge: to create a video, 5 minutes in length, that explains the true essence of chiropracTIC to the public.  The winner gets a check for $5000.  Videos are ranked by number of views, voting scores, number of comments, and number of reshares.   In other words, how much engagement it produces on the Internet.  The top 5 videos will go before a panel of judges after the December 10, 2011 deadline, and the winner will be announced.

I had ignited an interest in her that she never knew she had.  Months later I enrolled her in training to become a Certified Chiropractic X-ray Technician.  And soon afterwards, she was taking all of my X-rays… and she loved it!  (So did I).

So, you’ll understand when she announced to me that she had decided go back to school to become a medical imaging specialist.

We are sad to lose Robin, but are happy that she is pursuing her passion.

Robin was a true utility player for us at Anchor Chiropractic.  Not only were her skilled hands as a massage therapist utilized to see patients through injury and help unwind the stresses of life, but, as I said, she was our “in house” X-ray Technician — taking and developing all the X-ray studies I needed.  Plus, she conducted all of our MyoVision scans, transcribed my Spinal Column Radio podcasts, was Maria’s understudy, laundered the massage linens, and was my “crazy idea” assistant.

Yep!… I’m going to miss her…. And I know all of you will too.

Robin’s last day is Friday, January 28, 2011.  I want to encourage you to drop by the office to say goodbye and to have one last massage with her.  As my gift to her, I will be giving her 100% of the massage proceeds that she generates this week. Call the office ASAP at (360) 297-8111 to make an appointment.

I also want to encourage you to leave her a comment below to wish her well.  This webpage post will act as our “digital card” to her and will stay up on our website for years to come.  I know she’ll appreciate it.

One thing I do feel good about though… is that the medical profession is going to inherit an imaging technician that is now On Fire for Chiropractic!

Dr. Lamar

P.S. Robin — I expect you to keep listening to Spinal Column Radio and drop by for adjustments when you are up our way.