literally

 

In a strange way it is only now, after almost three months, that I am adjusting to what has happened. Three days ago, the horizontal syndesmosis screw was taken out (a short outpatient procedure under local anaesthetics) and physiotherapy is commencing next week!

I have been walking, if we may call it that, ie unaided and on my own two feet, every day around the house, in the garden and short distances in town.  

 

Not funny, not easy but getting there probably eventually. I compensate my lack of foot work with furious weight lifting and sitting down yoga/pilates whatever sessions. Not allowed to cycle or drive for another two weeks. I could just try it but if I knock down someone's dog or worse, insurance will not cover.

Cabin fever is setting in, R thinks I am slightly mad. We argue and we laugh and argue again and then we laugh and watch some crap on tv or debate the end of the world as we know it. 

The grandchild's current favourite English word is literally, the favourite German word is Gurke (cucumber). Also, air quotation is now a thing. 

Summer at least. I spent close to an hour last night topping and tailing strawberries. There's always that day when the novelty wears off and we turn to jam making.

 

Two . . . young hunters rescued a dragonfly stuck in the mud. It gave them the usual wishes you get in these stories. One wished to be the smartest man in the world. The dragonfly said, ‘So you shall be.’ But the second hunter wanted to be smarter than the smartest man in the world. . . . So the dragonfly converted the second hunter into a woman.

Tony Hillerman  

translation Prawns! I forgot to get the prawns . .

 

give it time

Yesterday I had a melt down. It was a long time coming. In fact, I had been waiting and hoping for it for weeks, like a great cleansing, a wave washing over me. It wasn't anything like it, just exhausting and snotty.

Earlier I had spent two hours with the orthopedic surgeon who will take over the recovery treatment now that I am back in the German health system. Everything looks as it should be, I am still walking with the moon boot, for another week when the screw inside my ankle joint will be removed. He had me walking a short distance without the boot and well, it's not what I call walking. Neither the foot nor the leg seem to be aware of what is required. Yet. All around me smiled reassuringly and there will be a physio plan and give it time and muscle building and more give it time and so on and I smiled too and then we had a coffee at the French place and when we got home, I started to sob like a baby for a good while.

I am all over the place with conflicting feelings. One the one hand, I want to concentrate on getting my mobility back, working hard at it with all that I can, while on the other hand, I want to lose myself in this summer, the colours, the sounds, the changes, so fast, so dramatic. No thinking, no pressure, no expectations. All that give it time stuff. How does it work?

The garden is a joy as always at this time of the year. I watch it from a shy distance, not able to pick the strawberries, harvest the sweet peas. This morning's gift, a first tender kohlrabi.

 

The best outcome so far has been the amount of reading I have done. Still do. Currently, I am racing through London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe, as recommended by all everywhere. 

Also, we are watching Legends on Netflix, hooked. I am a sucker for a good Liverpool accent anyday.