I Waved Goodbye

I waved goodbye to my girlfriend, now I’m on my own
All alone, with my knee.
I’ll be lonely here without her till she returns to me
I’m alone, with my knee
Do my flexions and extensions
Take my pain pills too
Nothing stupid, just behaving
Use the walker too!
When it’s later as the sun sets
I won’t be afraid.
She’ll return, here to me
Here to me, and my knee
This I know, ‘cause she loves me
(To the tune of “In My Room” by the Beach Boys)
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My girlfriend should be on the road making her way back to me at this point of the day. It’s been a dreary rainy day; and it has been very quiet here. My day alone has been uneventful for the most part. My knee is bit swollen today. Something that I experienced last time but haven’t really had much of this time around. I suspect it may be due to the increased rigor of the exercises and … today without assistance … an inability to manage the ice and elevation as effectively as have been.
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Spending the day with Harry has been an exciting experience. He has been lacking for the attention he usually gets from the perambulating treat dispenser (a.k.a. Girlfriend). Deprived of the abundance of treats, he has taken to lurking around corners and grabbing at the feet of my stroller (a.k.a. walker) as I go by.

I got some very helpful insights from him today as we lay exhausted on the bed, resting after a session of exercise. Somehow, he communicated with me that I ought to count myself fortunate in that I have only two knees that can necessitate replacement surgery. “Consider me, for example,” he said, “if knee surgery were for me I might need as many as four replacement surgeries!” I shuddered to think about that, but I began to think about what it might be like to be a beetle with six knees … or a spider, with eight! It would be hard to imagine being a centipede in need of replacement on even a fraction of my knees.

As Hairy nestled in next to me, rolled over on his back and stuck his four feet in the air and began to purr, I began to hum a song that my kids used to sing in Sunday School:
If I were a butterfly
I’d thank you Lord for giving me wings
If I were a robin in a tree
I’d thank you Lord that I could sing
If I were a fish in the sea
I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee
But I just thank you Father for making me, me
If I were an elephant
I’d thank you Lord by raising my trunk
If I were a kangaroo
You know I’d hop right up to you
If I were an octopus
I’d thank you Lord for my fine looks
But I just thank you Father for making me, me
If I were a wiggly worm
I’d thank you Lord that I could squirm
If I were a fuzzy, wuzzy bear
I’d thank you Lord for my fuzzy, wuzzy hair
If I were a crocodile I’d thank you Lord for my great smile
But I just thank you Father for making me, me

CHORUS
For you gave me a heart and you gave me a smile
You gave me Jesus and you made me your child
And I just thank you Father for making me, me
Yep … I’m thankful He made me Me … with just two knees!

On a more sober note: Someone cautioned me the other day about the need to be careful in what I write, lest I scare some who are planning, or considering knee replacement surgery. I hope that I have not done so. It certainly is not m intent to do so and I would deeply regret it if it were true. Everyone’s experience is different, even from one knee to the other. We all have different tolerance of pain and respond differently to medications. Surgeons each have their own unique approach to handling the cases of their patients. I’ve had ups and downs but I can certainly say that I’m glad I had my knees done. The key for me … and I suspect for you … is a positive attitude, a sense of humor so that I can laugh at myself and an active support team who encourages and prays for me.
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Severe Thunderstorm Warning and Tornado Watch here. Should I try to make it downstairs … or should I take my cane/walker and go out and stand on front porch to watch?
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Hail, wind, torrential rain … holding the front door shut by pushing on it with my cane while sitting on the floor!~~!! Girlfriend talking about heading to the basement and just told me I’d just have to sit here and blow away! Ha!