I feel stressed so I google acupuncture on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and find three places. Typically, I go to the nearest place. However, something tells me to look at the reviews. It appears the place farthest from where I’m staying, NYC Points on W. 70th Street, has the kind of reviews I like--five star. Plus, their website indicates that one of the acupuncturists uses Japanese style needles, which are smaller than the Chinese and the ones I prefer. I take the first opening, and lucky for me, I get the guy who does the Japanese needling, Jon, who also happens to own the joint. I’m more than thrilled.

It’s a funny day in NYC. Thunder and rain assault the air. It’s pouring mutts and alley cats. I take the M5 bus down Riverside and get off at 72nd Street. I’m immediately confused as I forget that I’m going to W. 70th. It takes some time to realize I first need to walk down two blocks, which only means precious minutes lost. Now I’m in a sudden scramble to get to my 10:30am appointment. 

NYC Points is housed in a large doorman building with an address on West End and an entrance on 70th. The office space is cozy and calm and touched by the aroma of essential oils plus the kind of music you want to hear in a healing environment. Jon, tall with a runner’s physique and probably handsome under his mask, greets me at the door. I feel an immediate connection to this man and start to cry. Jon is tissue-ready. He doesn’t rush me. He lets me pour out all my frustrations of being in NYC and my cancer treatment. He even points out some of the good things I have going, like a place to stay and a senior bus card.

Jon’s acupuncture technique is super. His needling feels like damsel flies lighting here and there on my legs, arms, and stomach. I fall asleep and only awaken as he announces session over. Pulling the needles out feels like tiny tickling threads. Nothing hurts and I feel more than great. He’s really gifted. When I go to pay, Jon asks me if I know the song Ramona? Uh oh, I think. Every doctor in the world since childhood has sung the song Ramona to me. Is this going to happen now?

The song I’m thinking of was made famous in 1928 by singer Gene Austin in a film called Ramona. Just imagine, an ugly old doctor singing “Ramona, I hear those mission bells above. Ramona, they’re ringing out our song of love” to a nine year-old kid, me. Please let this not happen now I say to myself (even though Jon is neither ugly nor old) as I rifle through my bag for some money. And then he surprises me by adding, “The song I’m talking about is by the Ramones. I’m a big Ramones’s fan.” That’s when I freeze hand in bag. Of course, I deduce, Jon’s way too young for the ‘28 Ramona song but just the right age for Ramona by the Ramones. I look up at him and say what I say to everyone who has ever brought up this song to me. “Yes, I know that song. It was inspired by me. I am that Ramona.” 

I encourage Jon to google me and when he does, he sees that I did indeed work with the Ramones in the 1970’s. I share some insider gossip with him and he says I made his day. I respond, “You’ve made my entire time in NY.” I book several more sessions with him. Who’d have thought that something I did so long ago without a thought of where it might lead would inform my life and health today? Thank you Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, Tommy and producer, Ed Stasium. Hey, ho, let’s go to NYC Points!

RAMONA JAN is the Founder and Director of Yarnslingers, a storytelling group that tells tales both fantastic and true. She is also the roving historian for Callicoon, NY and is often seen giving tours around town. You can email her at callicoonwalkingtours@gmail.com.