On February 13, 2020, I received my second knee replacement. As of a few days ago, I am able to walk at least around my home, without a cane. Now I am bilaterally mechanically ambulatory. There is still some pain, but a bit less every day. Same as the last time, the first couple of weeks were hell, the rest of the month a little less hell, then one day it was shockingly much more okay.
This time though, the left leg had been a bit more crooked than the right before the operation. The scar is almost twice as long, yet prettier. It was more painful than the last as well. Last time, I barely used the Rollator at home. I went pretty much straight from the walker to the cane, but this time the scooter got some wear on her wheels. I’ll still need her for walks outdoors for awhile, but by the time the quarantine is over, I’ll probably be over it.
It is kind of funny that I got grounded and then the whole world got grounded shortly after. A couple of months prior, a friend and I had been discussing that we felt a big and bad global pandemic was coming. We could feel it. We weren’t the only ones. Most folks observant to those energies whose names it is unlucky to mention in the rainy season felt it coming. Since in Vodun and similar systems, there is no quid pro quo, we simply aligned ourselves and tried to be as stabilized and prepared as possible. We were already doing monitoring and self isolation if sick, just in case it meant more people would die from the flu.
So, already stocked up on the basics, in this home we mainly just needed to beef up the supply on specific cold and flu medicines that would help keep coughing and fever down. Not that it would help a lot, so I’m told. Your immune system can either hack it or not, and if not, you go. I hope that if I or any of my loved ones are hit, we can survive. Meanwhile, we’re obeying the Ministry of Health rules and doing what we can to not catch it.
Shai has been amazing during this crisis. Other times, he seems overly morbid, but during a deadly global pandemic apparently that translates to a strange but comforting calm. He did have a bout of man-stupid in listening to too much speculation and fake news, but this was cured with some informative articles. Since then, he has been wonderful. He was also very helpful after the surgery in ways that I’d been too easygoing to demand in the past, but he was craving demands. He managed my bandages and now even lotions my feet every night.
Turtle’s cooking skills have improved since my surgery. I don’t know how she does it, but her mashed potatoes are better than mine now. She has to work through the lockdown because her company can’t stop production, but they are playing it very safe. They have private transportation, masks, and no contact. I still worry because one of her coworkers tends to go to work when she is sick. They’re thankfully on opposite shifts though. That bitch gave Turtle the flu, who gave it to me TWICE before we finally started just getting the flu shot.
My physiotherapy has been going well. It hurts, but it’s supposed to for now. That my physiotherapist is hot is a good motivation. I’m avoiding mixing business with pleasure, but it is inspirational when one’s helpers are nice to look at. For some idea of what I consider nice to look at, it’s about benevolence, a smile, a posture, and a good sense of humor. During the physiotherapy phase of the last knee, I was able to catch a few glimpses of him talking to and working with others. So at least at work, wysiwyg. He is a martial artist, and I hope that once the official bit is over, I can convince him to help me adapt my combat abilities to my new situation. I worry for him too since he has to work through the lockdown.
I am really grateful though. Really grateful for loving family and friends, a great orthopedic surgeon, and a wonderful physiotherapist. If I should pass from this form, I will go feeling honored that so much love and intelligence went into making what was my life, how ever brief, as good as possible. I hope I help others feel that way too.
