Pain and a discovery

 This morning I wrote to my doctor that I was in incredible pain with my ankle. Of course I don’t expect to hear until tomorrow. But I could barely hobble around here with my walker and called Jordan for help. Then I discovered something—I can ride my walker around the house, taking all stress off my ankle. I have to ride it backwards, because that’s how it knows to steer but I know this house well enough that’s no problem—except for an occasional bump here and there. I think it feels better already simply because I haven’t stressed it all day. But I’m still leery about getting up and sitting down. Am at my desk in the walker now—why change chairs when I don’t have to?  A little uncomfortable but not bad.

Jordan came and fixed me lunch—cottage cheese and wine—and came back tonight with friends in tow to scramble me a couple of eggs. She and Jacob will come back to spend the night—I have all kinds of guilt about this, but she brushes it off, says Christian is glad to sleep late in the morning undisturbed.

And that, folks, was my day—trying not to have to stand up, being cautious when I did, checking emails and Facebook and finally scratching the surface of the blog book I want to do. Actually a good day. I have two books left to read for the Sarton competition, and the deadline is fast upon us, so that’s my project for tonight. I’m reading a novel with a background deep in the Roman Catholic tradition and yet one that is full of humor. Not far into it, but I’m enjoying it.

As always. Facebook astounds me, with people leaping to unsupported conclusions. I don’t know how many people have criticized President Obama for apologizing to Japan for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The only problem is it was very clear he offered sympathy for their suffering but no apology.  But these are the same people who will damn him no matter what he does.

And then there’s that awful tragedy of the lowland gorilla and the child who slipped into his enclosure. I won’t even begin to take sides, because so many others have. But they don’t seem to realize every story has multiple components. Many have condemned the parents’ for not watching their child; others have damned the zoo for weak protection. And everyone is so convinced that their interpretation of the event is correct—yet I think I’ve only read two reports from people who were on-site witnesses. The whole thing was a catastrophe, and blame lies in many directions. I really resent the posts that personify the gorilla, having him say, “I don’t know why they killed me. I was taking better care of that child than his own mother.”

Memorial Day has come and gone for another year. I learned something this year—Memorial Day honors those who died in service of their country; Veterans Day honors all who have served. Let us never forget to honor both days. We have a great country, and no, Donald Trump we don’t need you to bring us back to greatness—we’re there, albeit with many issues and problems that one hopes a new Congress with address without the discord of the past eight years.