2013 came too fast: lost an entire year

It is true!  An entire year has passed--in fact it appears to be more than a full year.
Should mean that fun is on the plate.

RIGHT?

WHAT to show for more than a full year?
...well, now own:
    a set of crutches--metal, very nice looking--[only one used] [[don't ask me to explain]]
    a non-wheeled walker--not so nice
    one -yes that is right ONE black hard wooden? sole Velcro-closing footwear
    a two-sided, white plastic ankle brace--interesting apparatus..does have Velcro straps--very modern. Ha
    stretch-ie wraps--that can be used for most other injuries--[yea]
    a 5mo. inability to use stairs--[not so good on the 'Down' part yet] 
    a two-time experience with re-hab, resulting in an additional 2 mo. stint with opened-stitches repair
    a FINAL meeting with surgeon on November 13, 2012--[so Good]
    a much fuller appreciation of the ability to walk, climb up & go down stairs,--[learning the hard way] 

 No longer have the wheelchair. My hair turned white, [Not in a bun]
                               
                        Sal's hair is not white--in fact, he has it cut very short [much like below]
                                 

AND:
...a greater understanding of those of us who are always in a wheelchair with little or no expectation of
    being able to leave their wheels behind.
...the chagrin when realizing that previous "understandings" were nothing more than making 'the self'
    appear, or worse, Feeling empathy for those around who are not 'walking'   
...an appreciation of the 'visual' discrepency of standing compared to sitting.
...the difficulty of getting in and out of the front seat of a car--[forget the 2nd or 3rd seats].
...the interesting reaction of fellow shoppers, [or walkers around you]
...the necessity of depending on another for so many things-[things that seemed so vital before]
...the necessity of realigning the "Need to drive" and to "do it myself".  

FURTHER:
 On the Business side of 2dragottas--etc-- leaving the RE Business has taken place here in our small
section of Michigan.  It is a natural result for us.
It is or will be strange as the year moves forward.
Do suspect that Sal will have stronger feelings about this than I, as he spent more time in the actual
steps taken to build a Business.
Don't know if he is saddened about this change.--[those are personal feelings that stay just that]
Do feel somewhat guilty---O.K.--a lot guilty--as he is The Driver everywhere since 6/25/2012...[tho'
I suspect that is giving him new 'spring' to his steps.  [fine with me--he deserves this "Spring"]

The only concern for me is not moving along with the rest of you within the Business of RE.


The fall--that caused the ankle break/shatter ??--was because I did my usual maneuver of moving at a rapid pace down the basement stairs.  Taking the landing step as incidental rather than necessary or something.

Most of me made it down 3 steps below the landing while the left foot appears to have hooked the rug and did not make the move with most of me.  Thus the appearance of the bone-shaped protrusion on the right side--who knew.
Did not plan this.
Did not even think that my speed was so dangerous.
Have discovered that once you pass a certain age--and I have--the 'go slow' sign must be front and center
[or, just the necessity of 'being present' in one's daily life.]

For those of you in the Medical fields, or who's spouses or children are so involved--I applaud you.
You are not to take this wrong.

The hard part of growing old, or worse being told that you are. is that "Look" or "virtual-clicking-tsk,tsk"
sound that accompanies so much of the attention.
I am old as far as years go, but not in anything else. [well, dancing may be out now--ha]

Have an xray that I will do [next week] simply because this new Doctor received the BC-BS notice. 
That is all that I will do--this is an ankle that has been twisted, banged, having-tripped over all 5 dogs and any of the 4 cats who was slow. It has been stressed in other ways over the years.
I am left-handed, so it follows that my left ankle is the one that is always involved first.
So be it.

Now that you have heard that I am not old, nor moving toward senility --truly;
it is time for my meds--Ha.ha  
Nope!

Wishing all of you a grate 2013.
Hopefully, we can continue meeting this way.  If not, then it has been a great experience for me these days.


This is a recent product --now a tribute to Sal's work and years in the RE Business.