A strange thing happened the other day which had me heading to the Internet for an explanation. I’ll tell you about the miraculous answer I found, but first I must backtrack a bit.
My mother always told me my fondness for chocolate would come back to haunt me someday. And boy am I glad she’s no longer with us, because she would certainly gloat and give me that that “I told you so!” look if she knew I underwent two root canal procedures within a matter of weeks. The hours I spent in the dentist’s chair were worsened by the fact that I carry a bunch of metal in my neck, primarily the result of all those years I participated in sports. (Remember when they told us sports were good for us? They lied!)
A short time after the second root canal, my surgically repaired neck took offense. A spasm ignited, slamming into my left jaw, and no amount of Tylenol, gummies, or sweet dark rum would touch the pain. Not even my trusty heating pad provided any relief. So, I rushed off to my favorite masseur. Wayne McCallum poked and prodded and a short time later, all that pain stopped. I’m still thinking about nominating him for the sainthood, because there’s nothing better than feeling good again.
However, the next morning, I felt the pain creeping back, which made me cranky and had me wishing Wayne lived next store.
Then, I glanced out my back door. I live atop a cliffside overlooking Christiansted Harbor in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands where the Caribbean Sea provides an everchanging variety of magnificent views. The scene that faced me was not what you might imagine on a postcard. There was no turquoise water with foamy white waves and palm trees waving in the breeze. Instead, the green mountains in the distance were shrouded in a scrim-like silvery mist. The sea was almost silent, gentle waves barely kissing the rocky shore below. Above, masses of clouds— some white, others in various shades of gray—radiated a pearly opalescent, with slips of blue sky occasionally peeking through.
I sat, entranced. Then a soft rain came, quiet accept for the gentle tapping of drops on the sphere-shaped leaves of the sea grape tree that grows by the porch. Time slipped away.
Sometime later, I realized the pain was gone. Completely. But how could that have happened? Well, it turns out that watching something beautiful, especially landscapes, has an analgesic affect. Here’s what my AI friend said: “…looking at beautiful things—particularly natural landscapes, art, or loved ones—can reduce the sensation of pain. Research suggests this is not just a psychological distraction, but a biological process where viewing beauty triggers neural and physiological changes that lower pain signals in the brain.”
How cool is that? Basically it comes down to the fact that when we see something awe-inspiring our pre-frontal cortex is activated. Beauty provides pleasure which can lower our discomfort when we’re in pain.
I will now add this medical marvel to my pain-killing tool belt. Maybe you will too. However, I still plan to hold on to Wayne’s number, because a massage from him is pretty magical too.
THE CASTLE
ANNE MONTGOMERY
Suspense/Thriller
Ancient ruins. Haunted memories. A ruthless predator. Can Maggie survive the ghosts of her past – and the monster hiding in plain sight?
When she returns to her job as a National Park Ranger at “The Castle”—a centuried-old Native American pueblo carved into an Arizona cliff—Maggie hopes the comfort of familiar ground will help her heal. Battling trauma and the grief of unimaginable loss, Maggie’s days are carefully measured, her life held together by the thinnest of threads.
But strange things are happening at the park. A mysterious child appears and vanishes without a trace. And a predator watches her every move, planning his attack.
With the help of friends, fellow survivors, and the land itself, Maggie begins to reclaim her strength. But the danger is closer than she knows, and soon Maggie will have to face a deadly threat… and her deepest fears.
Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.
Praise for The Castle
“A deftly written and riveting read from cover to cover, “The Castle” effectively showcases author Anne Montgomery’s genuine mastery of the Romantic Suspense genre.” – Midwest Book Review
“A slow burn thriller, mixed in with a touch of mystical realism…A true five-star experience!” – Sara Steven Chick Lit Central
“A beautifully considered, sumptuous novel from a skilled storyteller.” – SaraRose Auburn Writing & Reviews
“This is a novel about good rage, about channeling the injustices of the world around us and fighting to do some good with both words and deeds. Lucky for readers, it was penned by a maestra like Anne Montgomery, so that we got a tense, powerful novel in the bargain too.” – Jennifer deBie-Rosie Amber Book Reviews
“Ms. Montgomery manipulates uncomfortable subjects and dark suspense into a gripping tale with hints of romance and humor carefully guiding readers on an informative journey of survival and self-discovery.“ Tonya Mathenia InD’tale Magazine
“Soul-stirring. A brilliant book…Truly a masterpiece.” – Anu Menon Thought is Free Book Blog
“I was gripped from start to end.” – Katherine Hayward Pérez Just Katherine Blog
“Ms. Montgomery has an almost magical talent to draw the reader into the worlds she creates through her words. Her characters are interesting, vulnerable and strong. While describing the locations in which her books are set, she weaves history with vivid images, immersing the reader in a hard-to-put-down story full of history, beauty and mystery.” – Margaret Millmore Author
Author Anne Montgomery 