I bought a gallon of milk today and I was thrilled.
I parked the car, walked into the store, walked to the dairy case plopped my gallon of milk into my shopping cart and headed for the check out lane.
Halfway through the store I felt a rush of euphoria. I had walked from the car....into the store....and was on my way out....walking.
After an entire month of couching after my foot surgery...sitting on the couch with my feet up ....I was walking again.
My steel pins were removed on Friday. A horrible adventure.
I knew the procedure was not going to be pleasant when the Doctor instructed me to close my eyes. I had a sock in my hand from my affected foot and placed it over my eyes like a blindfold.
"Don't worry you won't feel this."
The first pin slid out like butter.
The second pin.....was stuck.
I opened my eyes.....I almost fainted. The doctor was holding a huge stainless steel plyer in his hand and look flustered. He took a deep breath and attacked my second toe. It felt like he was trying to pull a 100 lb marlin out of it. Just went I started to feel woozy....a massive burning sensation engulfed my foot. "No problem....it's out."
No problem? My foot looked like it had been stung by a thousand bees.
So I couched all weekend.....and finally took my first step on Monday. Not bad...not bad....and today....Wednesday....I put on an old wide sandal.....and took my first stroll.
I was shocked how jello-like and wobbly my legs felt. I looked and swayed like the proverbial drunk sailor....except I was very sober.
My steps were tentative when I entered the store and I had to remind myself how to walk normally....because if you hobble around for a month....your body wants to continue to hobble even though there is no reason to continue walking that way.
So when I reached mid-store and I hit an almost normal gait....I was happy.....so very happy to feel and experience movement.
You probably took 5,000 steps today (the average steps a person takes in a day) but it seems you only appreciate that magnificent feat when you barely hit 50 a day.
How amazing to walk into a grocery store and buy a gallon of milk and then walk out.
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