There are unwritten laws of the universe. One of them states that if you have trail mix, you have to eat it all mixed up together in each bite. A peanut, a raisin, an m&m. You are not supposed to separate them out. Furthermore, you are not supposed to ever sort m&ms by color. That's just wrong.
If you do something like this, you will be photographed because, as your sister Drama Girl told you, "that's so weird mommy's going to blog about it."
Last Friday was my son's bridging ceremony where he transitioned from a Cub Scout to a Boy Scout. It was an interesting evening to say the least. In addition, he received the Arrow of Light award, the highest badge possible in Cub Scouting. It represented a lot of work on his part, and I am very proud of him.
The three boys in his den had built their own bridge. Silly me, I thought it was supposed to look like a bridge. You can see part of it in the picture below. Their old Cub Scout leaders stood on one side, and removed their Webelos neckerchief. Then each boy was welcomed by the Boy Scout leader on the other side and he crossed the bridge. My son the gymnast flew across in about 1 second. Wish I had a better picture, but you get the idea.
Then a Boy Scout in the new troupe he's entering put his new neckerchief on him and gave him the official Boy Scout handshake. The picture is a little tilted, but I love how Jungle Boy is biting his lip in the excitement of the moment.
When all were through, all the Cub Scouts and parents in the pack lined up and made an avenue for the new Boy Scouts to walk down as we all clapped. It was really very moving rite of passage for a fine young man.
I might have had a little tear in my eye. I'm a total sap about stuff like this.
Jungle Boy and my husband celebrated with a camping trip this weekend - but that's fodder for another post.
I focused on my goal, ignoring the screaming pain coming from my body. Every pore dripped sweat as I struggled to the finish. My breathing was hard and ragged.
My mind was no longer attached to my moving legs and feet. I achieved a clarity of purpose; the Zen of elite athletes. My whole being centered on keeping up my momentum. One foot in front of the other, their steady rhythm told me "don't stop, you can't stop!" Although alone for the moment, in my mind I heard cheering crowds as I neared the finish line.
I gasped as I crossed it, and nearly stumbled into a state of collapse. This was the hardest thing I have ever pushed myself to do in my life, but somehow, through sheer willpower, I did it.
Today I walked for five minutes on a treadmill.
If you are unwanted and unsubscribed-to but thrown on my driveway anyway, you will be left where you fall. I can't bend over, the husband doesn't seem to have time while he rushes to his car, and the kids never see things like newspapers on the ground.
So you will be left out, cold and alone, and then it will rain. And then, adding insult to injury, I will drive over you until you are a mass of pulp and a warning to all other unsuspecting newspapers.
You have been warned.
Tomorrow I start walking without my crutches. It's a big day for me, and I'm happy to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've lived with pain for 20 years at least, sometimes intense, and it's always been part of who I am. Now there is just a tiny bit left, and I'll be walking with my new and improved skeleton. It's exciting.
So goodbye pain and limp, I learned to live with you, but I never liked you.
*******************
In other news, the twins turned 11 this weekend. It feels very much like an era of their lives is finished. They are such different people now. Rebellious, sassy, developing their own tastes and ideals. They still see the world together but they are more likely now to draw different conclusions from it.
It was a challenge coordinating a birthday from the bed. Thank heavens for Amazon.com and their speedy delivery. Of course, one gift didn't arrive until late on the actual day of their birthday, so that was a bit of a nail-biter. But despite all, Jungle Boy said the phrase I never get tired of hearing; "This was the best birthday ever." He says it every year, and I consider it one of my mommy report cards.
I do apologize for everyone for being so behind in reading blogs. Hopefully I'll get back in the swing of things and be able to spend time at the computer now.
) and 2 lovely mindless books; Something about a runaway Princess and something about this guy who breaks his leg and ends up waiting to heal in a room in a house with a beautiful woman in Medieval England and the whole plot is just a retelling of "Rear Window." I can't even remember the name of that one and I read it yesterday.That paper clip has been there for a week now. Not only can I not bend down to pick it up, but nobody in the family has picked it up, which tells you something of the state of the floors around here.
They're all being flexible and rolling with a house where the mom is strapped to the bed all day. It's funny and endearing. My husband brought me a load of my laundry that he'd done. Despite my carefully detailed outline of exactly how to do laundry, he forgot the dryer sheet. It was a basket full of static. He must have fried it in the dryer for a long time to get it that crackly. I have to laugh. But at least he did it!
The twins are ecstatic because daddy took them out and got them matching cell phones. They spend every free hour texting eachother. At least they always check in with me as they get picked up by their various rides after school. Peace of mind and happiness all around.
I can hobble slowly on my crutches - which is why I keep seeing that paper clip - and I get to the table for meals. Eating in bed is so overrated. Who wants the crumbs?
A million thanks to my sister, who sent a box full of wonderful mindless cheesy paperbacks. I'm also getting some embroidery done.
Still battling pain management, especially at night, but there is definitely progress. The physical therapist has started using electric current to stimulate blood flow. I told the kids I'm going to get little bolts inserted in the sides of my neck for permanent pain relief. They almost believed me.
Enough typing. Time to go back to bed and get the leg in the machine again.
I'm typing this right-handed because I can't balance my laptop on my lap and use both hands while my leg machine is going. It's a bit of a challenge.
The surgeon was not able to do everything he had hoped to do because once he got into the hip joint there was too much arthritis. He was able to sculpt down the bones and remove the torn cartilage. We'll know how successful the surgery was at reducing pain in about 6 months.
You know you have a great husband when you wake up the night after surgery and throw up all over the place and he cheerfully cleans up you, and the floor, and changes the sheets. I am going to make him lots of extra batches of his favorite chocolate chip cookies when I'm better.
You know you have great friends when they set up a parade of dinners delivered to your door. Nothing tastes better than food made with love like that. I am so grateful.
I met my physical therapist today. She's very kind but after a whole hour of "we're going to do this until it hurts," I was ready to start whimpering. Luckily the session included some massage and some ice at the end.
And what have I got to show for all this big painful surgery? Four little band-aids, covering four tiny holes in my hip. Just amazing.
My husband and I have talked with the kids about how mommy will need some extra help while she is recuperating from her surgery this week. They mused on their favorite screen servants and vowed to do as well.
Drama Girl says she will be Lurch. She is practicing saying "You Rang?" in her deepest, slowest voice.
Wasabi Girl has chosen to be like Manuel in Fawlty Towers. She's practicing saying "Que?" and misunderstanding all instructions.
Jungle Boy says he'll be just like Kato from the Pink Panther movies. Always ready to spring out and attack.
This is Nurse Nina. Although she is the most devoted of my assistants, she always takes long breaks and is quite vocal in her insistance that the best form of therapy is "cat-petting," which she says lowers blood pressure. I think she may be right.
I'll be lucky if I get a cup of tea from any of them.
This little beauty I have dubbed "Mr. Bendz." See how happy this woman seems? It looks like she just wants to hang out all day with her leg in that thing. I gave mine a test drive yesterday. It's not exactly silent, and it bends the hip way up, but I guess I'll get used to it. He and I will be spending a lot of time together. He's my least favorite assistant.
Thank you for all the good wishes! They mean a lot to me. Tuesday is my surgery, and I'll post when I can.
