Hey everyone! So, remember how I was basically glued to the couch? Well, this weekend was a whirlwind of “firsts” and a giant leap (well, maybe a cautious step) back into the world. Jenn came to visit, and it turned into a celebration of small victories and good company.
First things first, I actually DROVE! Can you believe it? After weeks of hobbling around, the idea popped into my head Friday evening: “Dinner? And I’ll drive?” It felt surreal slipping on actual boots (over the braces, naturally) instead of my medical moon boots. Getting behind the wheel was a bit nerve-wracking, but after a few minutes, the freedom started to kick in. I wasn’t ready for the highway just yet, but just getting myself out there felt incredible.
Of course, nothing is ever *completely* smooth, right? We chose a restaurant with a patio, but apparently, “accessible” is a relative term. Picture this: me, walker in tow, navigating through the restaurant, only to find the patio entrance blocked by a fortress of barstools. Seriously, you’d think they were guarding the Holy Grail of happy hour. I had to backtrack and go around the outside. But hey, I made it! And the company (and the food) was worth the detour.
After dinner, it was back to the house for TV and girl talk. Dave turned in early, leaving Jenn and me with the remote. I let her have control while I caught up on some notes (aka, this blog!). I even stayed up a bit to watch *General Hospital* – five episodes behind, people! It’s a crisis!
Saturday morning brought a chilly surprise (52 degrees in August?!), but I was too excited to care. Just being able to get out of bed and put weight on my own two feet (albeit with a healthy dose of anxiety) was a win. I mean, I *did* cause this whole mess by tripping over my own feet, so every step still feels like a potential disaster movie. But fear is a terrible accessory, so I pushed through and made my coffee, uninjured!
Since I wasn’t quite ready for highway driving, Dave chauffeured us all to a shoe store for some supportive sneakers. While we were out, we even squeezed in some suit shopping for Dave’s new job. We capped it off with a late lunch, and then Jenn and I settled in for some wine under the awning. We finished the bottle just as the sun set, perfectly timed!
Sunday started with a failed croissant run (the bakery was all out!), so we opted for an early lunch at a local diner. The food was great, but the bees were NOT playing nice. We quickly retreated back to the house, where Samantha joined us for some afternoon chatting.
Then, the moment I’d been waiting for: Andy came over to remove the ramp! Hallelujah! I can finally get in and out of my own house without a medical assist. Freedom!
We celebrated with dinner at The Painted Pony, and this time, I walked in on my own two feet! While at dinner, my dad called from Seattle, the departure port for the Alaska cruise I’ve been forced to cancel. He was all settled in at the Edgewater Hotel, a place with a fascinating history and some serious rock-and-roll cred.
We finished the evening with ice cream for the last night of Jenn’s visit. It was the perfect ending to a weekend filled with progress, laughter, and a whole lot of “firsts.”
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more updates on my recovery journey. And remember, even when life gives you lemons (or dislocated ankles), make lemonade (or, you know, write a witty blog post about it!).
You failed to tell one of the funniest parts of your shoe shopping. So for everyone’s enjoyment, here it is. So you have to remember, the only shoes she could wear were an old pair of zip up boots. She put them on just before we left for the store. When we get to the store we found a few pairs for her to try on. This is where it all went sideways. She couldn’t get the zipper down to take off the boots. At one point the sales clerk was ready to cut them off her feet for us. It was then that another seasoned sales clerk stepped in and took one look at her boots and informed her that the zipper she was trying was the fake decorative zipper. The actual zipper on the boots she had just put on, was on the inside side of the boot. She had used those zippers not even an hour before and forgot they were even there!