Downscaling.net

It’s been two weeks and one day since I had my knee replaced, and my recovery is going really well.

Mobility milestones? Kicking them in the arse. I can go up and down the stairs as well as I did before the surgery. I can walk with my spiffy new cane (and when no one is looking I even walk without the cane.) I can get in and out of the shower, in and out all the chairs in my house and even in and out my low-riding VW Beetle.

I can do all my leg lifts and slides and I can get an almost perfectly straight horizontal leg stretch. My leg bends backwards at just a little past 90 degrees now, so I only have a few more degrees to go before I pass that final test.

The only problem is I am getting mentally and physically restless. As lovely, comfortable and well-stocked as my home is, being housebound is not as much fun as thought it would be.

It’s only been 15 days since surgery and I want to be completely healed, which isn’t at all reasonable. I am dying to get behind the wheel and go somewhere — anywhere — all by myself like a grown-up. I want to go to Starbucks, to the mall, to the grocery, to the gym.

Yeah, even the gym. The queen of lazy is so stir crazy that the gym sounds like all kinds of fun.

Yesterday my physical therapist took me for a stroll around my cul-de-sac and she had to practically drag me back inside the house. It was exhilarating to move in the sunshine and draw clean, fresh air into my lungs. It felt great to be active, and even if it was just a few laps that didn’t add up to a quarter of a mile, I felt like a marathoner.

Or should say I felt the way I assume someone who runs a marathon feels. Not that I know or will ever know. Running 26.2 miles without being chased by a brain-hungry zombie is just fucking nuts to me. Sorry to all my running pals, but seriously? All that pounding on your perfectly good knees without the motivation of becoming a snack for the undead makes zero sense to me.

I have friends that get me. They really get me.

Luckily I work with some truly thoughtful and generous people — great friends who have been dropping by to see me and bringing delicious meals for my family. This takes a big burden off my husband who is working full time and caring for me and our zoo of pets.

But more than the meals, I enjoy their company. Just seeing their faces brightens my day.