Big Sis Gets The Boot
It was a normal Friday in July of this year. When I say “normal” I mean that I had just finished my normal workout and as usual I was a bit tired, a bit pumped and quite a bit “sweaty.” But as I made my way back to the car, I experienced a sudden, sharp pain in my left foot. This was not normal. And this is where my story begins.
The pain passed quite quickly so of course I ignored it. (I read somewhere that redheads have a higher than normal pain threshold, but don’t quote me. It could just as easily be the opposite.) Besides,The Sisterhood was on their way to Halifax the next day and there was no time to dwell, and still much to do.
By the next day, I was limping slightly, but this was not going to slow me down. No Sir! I had a 5K to walk and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me. After all, there was Highland dancing to watch, Bagpipes to enjoy and a host of other activities that our Nova Scotia hosts offered. Yes, I was in it for the long haul. I hadn’t come this far, just to sit on the sidelines.
This Wasn’t Part of the Plan…
Of course as time moved on, the pain only progressed and I was now limping with every step, but I maintained my steadfast determination to complete the 5K and keep up with Middle and Little. I’m not sure they appreciated my degree of pain because I bore my burden in silence. ( In that respect, I like to think of myself as a bit of a martyr.😉)
As proof that I forged resolutely ahead and completed the 5K, I offer the following video. I would point out that my cheerful demeanor disguises my excruciating pain….Okay, it wasn’t excruciating, but I had definitely reached my maximum pain threshold.
Ten days later, back at home, my pain was not subsiding, and I was forced to seek medical guidance. After an x-ray and a bone scan, I was formally diagnosed with a fracture in my foot and to my surprise, I was told I needed to wear a “Boot.” I won’t bore you with details but suffice to say, it’s not a particularly pleasant experience.
Life Goes On
In the midst of my depressing dilemma, however, I was surprised to find a silver lining. Because I was still reasonably mobile, I was able to be out and about, and found that I often elicited looks of sympathy and even questions as to how it happened, not to mention occasional unsolicited stories from individuals who had suffered a similar fate. (Elevators seemed to be the setting particularly conducive to these types of conversations.)
In fact, I was so mobile, that a planned trip to Ireland was still a reality, and this is where that silver lining really kicked in. I had assistance in both pre-boarding and disembarking the airplane. In addition, a wheelchair was at my disposal:
- To and from the Departure and Arrival Gates
- To the front of the line in Customs and Security
- To the front of the Taxi line up
*Bonus: I was also on the receiving end of several offers of unsolicited assistance and looks of sympathy throughout our trip.
OOPS!
Normally it is necessary to wear a Boot for about 6 weeks but I chose to wear it for a bit longer because we were now on our way to Australia and I wanted to be doubly sure my foot was fully healed. I won’t deny that I was also looking forward to all of the previous perks I had enjoyed on our Ireland trip. Yes, I was stretching the limits, but I ask you, who among us wouldn’t do the same thing in similar circumstances?
About halfway through our trip, however, I got tired of the Boot, and arbitrarily decided that it was no longer needed. I was looking forward to the freedom of walking without it, not having to be mindful of steps and the constant readjusting to make sure that it was tight enough on my foot. Yes, I would once again be free to run, to jump and get in and out of the car without adjusting the seat.
Hubby too was happy for me and as I jubilantly took off the Boot for the last time, he began to search our suitcase for my left shoe. And he searched and he searched. Yes, you guessed it. I had neglected to pack it! And yes, I spent the rest of the trip in sweltering Australia heat, wearing a Boot I didn’t really need.
Now What?
I have a tendency to over think things, and throughout my “incapacitation” I was constantly plagued with what I called the Boot disposal problem. And suddenly I had to actually face reality and do something.
Some might advise to simply throw it in the garbage, but that just seemed wrong on so many levels. I couldn’t imagine a Second Hand Shop or Thrift Store would take such a well worn and somewhat fragrant item, so Hubby temporarily placed it on our living room mantle while I searched for a solution. And then I had a flash of genius!
I offer what I consider to be both a creative and practical solution. I will place it on our mantle along with all our other Christmas stockings. It is eye-catching and has a greater capacity than most. Santa will surely be impressed and I can relax, knowing that I have pretty much saved the environment and created a timeless treasure for years to come. Yay me!
