Big one today: driving achieved!
This was a huge milestone for someone from LA; being unable to
get around via automobile (with emphasis on the “auto”) is an Angeleño’s worst
nightmare. In fact, whenever I’m under stress for a period of time, I start
having dreams about being unable to find my car, crashing my car, having my car
be stolen.
(In the run-up to surgery, I dreamt every night for more than a
week about car-catastrophes. In one of them I drove into a swamp. These are
genuine nightmares.)
But I had a notice from the local library that a book I’d put on
hold (I was about number 235 on the list when I placed the hold) was available.
So I marched carefully to my car, got in, fired up the engine in 18-degree weather
(God bless Swedish engineering), engaged the clutch and took off.
Everything worked as designed. No pain, able to move from
accelerator to brake, pressure through knee fine. The worst part was getting
out of the driver’s seat. Guy in the Honda who wanted to pull up next to me in
the library lot had to wait while I carefully lifted the leg out and got
everything aligned for real automotion.
That trip to the library was Liberty Leading the People—I can
get myself to appointments without bothering friends or fighting with Anthem
about paying for Uber. I can grocery shop (the new Wegmans is across the street
from my PT!). I can go into the office to use the high-speed color printer and pick
up some fresh fruit.
I can live my best fourth-generation Californian life.
Mega thanks for that.
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