Precious and Priceless

Physical therapy is on the agenda as I recover from my SI Joint fusion surgery.  I’m 4 weeks out from surgery.  Getting around pretty good, still on crutches.  This last week I’ve actually started walking with the crutches, no longer need to be non-weight bearing, but still less than 50% weight bearing on my left leg.

Learning how to walk again, my muscles protesting every step, as they’re not sure how to operate in their new world.  Last week I needed a ride to physical therapy.  This week, I was able to get there on my own.  I got my nails done earlier in the afternoon and instead of heading home, I decided to just drive to physical therapy and relax in my truck in their parking lot.  I had my phone and tablet with me, so was able to entertain myself while listening to my music.  Quite a pleasant time, in fact.  Now, usually, no matter my pain level, I do not smoke any weed until I’m home and not planning on going anywhere.  I just tough it out until I get home.  But, yesterday the pain was pretty intense and since I had almost an hour until my appointment, it would be at least 2 hours until I had to drive home.  So, as I sat in my truck outside of physical therapy, I smoked some weed for the pain.

I explained to the physical therapist that I was experiencing a lot more pain that day, then I previously had and I put it down to having been too active on the crutches the previous day.  The physical therapist spent some time releasing some pressure points before we did the exercises.  As he located the sorest points and relieved some of the pain, we discussed what would be causing those particular muscles to seize up.  Turns out that since I’ve been walking again, I’ve been walking wrong.  For months before my surgery, I had been walking toes first to lessen the impact to my SI joint.  Now that everything is back in line, I need to start walking normally, heel first.  Now, that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but when I tried it, I discovered that I couldn’t do it very well and it would take some practice to learn how to walk again properly.  So, I’ve been practicing.

Meanwhile, while the therapist was working on the painful muscle groups, he started telling me about his weekend and how he proposed to his girlfriend (she said yes).  It was totally a romantic, well-thought out proposal along Lake Superior near the lighthouse.  He found a quiet spot away from all the people on a rock ledge overlooking the lake.  He told her he chose the spot specifically near the lighthouse, so in the future when they had some tough times, they could remember the proposal and the lighthouse to re-center themselves and their life together.

I was seriously impressed with all the thought he put into it to make it a special event in their lives that could guide them through their future.  It’s the kind of thing that a woman dreams of and certainly bodes well for their marriage.  Finding a partner that cares about the little things that make you happy and makes memories for both of you is something to hold on to.  I was so excited for them and hope she realizes what she has and puts in the effort to hold up her end of the promises they made together.  His careful planning and thoughtfulness was clearly genuine and the joy in his voice as he recounted the experience was pure fun to listen to.

Taking joy in other’s happiness is a blessing I’ve learned to enjoy over the years.  It’s why I’m always talking to random strangers in a store or parking lot.  Being a senior citizen with mostly gray hair also gives me the freedom to start a friendly non-threatening conversation with others…babies, children, frazzled mothers, people, young or old dealing with disabilities or injuries, but still trying to get along.  The other day as I was getting out the truck at a restaurant, I noticed a woman using a walker, getting out of the car with a couple friends.  One of the friends said her bra strap was showing and was trying to fix it.  The woman shrugged her off and said “just be glad I put a bra on.”  I said to her “you got that right” (I could relate, as when you’re struggling with an injury or disability, one must carefully consider whether a bra is really necessary).  She laughed and made her way to the restaurant.  I thoroughly enjoy these little interactions with others and feel good about bringing a little joy to their struggles.  I know I always appreciate that myself.

Some people may say I’m a bit too intrusive in random stranger’s lives.  But, quite frankly, I don’t care.  So many times over the years, a random comment from a stranger or acquaintance makes my whole day.  Most of the time…except when they think I’m Alice’s grandmother…that happened recently at a drive-through.  Alice picked me up for our trip for our energy drinks. I had just gotten up.  I was still wearing my jammies with my bathrobe over the top.  When I first get up, my short straight hair is sticking out in all directions.  Because of our age difference people often ask if I’m Alice’s mother.  I don’t mind that, my kids are older than her.  Her mom was 5 years younger than me.  I would be proud to be her mother.  So, this particular day, as the server handed our drinks out the window, she notices my jammies.  I didn’t know this when I bought them, but apparently the faces on my pants are from Jack the Skeleton, Nightmare before Christmas.  Never saw that movie, just like the pants.  So she says “and grandma’s got her Jack the Skeleton jammies on.”  I didn’t say anything then, but as we drove away, I said “really!  Grandma?  Man, I must really look the part today.  We had a good laugh about that anyway.

Being able to laugh about my struggles and share them with others is so much fun and sure as hell beats being all negative and surly while interacting with others.  As I continue my journey through life, in spite of the struggles, or maybe because of them, I have learned to enjoy every minute and interactions with others whether they’re close or whether they’re strangers.

Being able to share someone else’s joy in life is Precious and Priceless.

Love and Peace

Chick