We all make mistakes. The difference is, when you make one, you probably don’t get contacted by someone from the American Chiropractic Association in Arlington, Va.
Or maybe you do.
In which case you may want to consider folding up this newspaper right now and going in for an adjustment.
But, unless you mistakenly informed readers that September was “National Correct Posture Month” when, in fact, we’re all free to slouch until May, I’m guessing you’ve never gotten an e-mail from Angela Kargus, Communications and Public Relations Manager for the ACA.
There are two things I know about Angela:
1) She is very nice.
2) She probably has excellent posture.
I also know she read my column a couple of weeks ago. As Angela pointed out, it proclaimed “National Correct Posture Month” in the wrong month, and provided recommendations on how to avoid slouching that Angela informed me were outdated.
It’s true. Even as a trained professional, I somehow overlooked the more recent recommendations made specifically for today’s slouching public. Because of this, I’d like to apologize. Particularly to those of you who, based on my recommendation, are currently being followed around by someone with a bullhorn yelling “SLOUCHER!” whenever you slump your shoulders.
I think Angela and I would agree you should stop this immediately because, to be quite honest, it’s possible you have more important issues to deal with than posture.
Not that posture isn’t important.
It’s EXTREMELY important.
In fact, I’m posturing right now.
My point is, as a journalist, there’s nothing more important than credibility. Except for maybe having Spellcheck. That’s why I’m taking the burden of that mistake squarely on my shoulders. First, because I have no one to blame but myself. And second because, thanks to the ACA website, I know any burden should be carried squarely in order to avoid back problems.
I would like to say that even though I was wrong about “National Correct Posture Month,” October really is National Spinal Health Month. Honest!
That said, I’d like to thank Angela and the ACA for straightening me out on the whole posture thing.

You can write to Ned Hickson at [email protected], or at the Siuslaw News, 148 Maple St., Florence, Ore. 97439.