Booted

May 24, 2013

Takes extra effort and a great amount of time to be fiscally challenged in our society. If one does not have internet service, a charged and generous plan on their cell phone, a physical address, lease on an apartment, Social Security card in-hand, all the time in the world to take the city bus around to Timbuktu and back to get to where you need and wish to go, valid Driver’s License and an excellent English vocabulary, you are in serious jeopardy of not getting assistance. I waited for 14 minutes, using up valuable cell minutes for this month, to finally speak with a Centurylink representative to help me set-up my internet service. Yes, just hi-speed internet, no cable (don’t own a television) no home phone service, no messaging capabilities, just the internet, sans bundling. I believe the sales rep sincerely wished to call-in his best recruit to help me see the light…obviously I will be put on some sort of nut-case list and my personal data distributed to the cell phones carriers. I’ll check into a hotel in the future and the clerk will be startled by the urgent, flashing red message that pops up on the screen to warn them I am a non-consumer, and considered dangerous, to be avoided at all costs.

The surgeon seems to like the looks of my progressive healing ankle this afternoon and I do as well. It is the first chance I have had to look at it since a week ago Monday. All of the healthcare attendants are amazed that I had the operation on the 13^th.  The sutures are cut out with a great deal of painful skin stretching, and gasping noises shockingly emitting from my mouth. I take it someone was very precise in their stitch-tying and makes it impossible to tug and tie the short ends to remove at a later date. Lucky me.

I have a Darth Vader looking black boot that blows up from points on the sides. It is outstandingly firm and prevents me from bumping my healing foot. Four plus weeks of non-weight bearing remain with a fashionable thunky boot and crutches. I did find a knee wheel of sorts at the Goodwill/Easter Seals down the street from the No Kill Cat Shelter in St Paul. Of course Taelor had to stop to peer-in and admire the felines that beg for homes through their pathetic cages. One in particular made her whine in agony since the shelter is closed until 6 and she cannot pet the flame point/tabby cat. She has to settle for staring at him/her through the glass and wait.

At least ten degrees cooler in our duplex than the great outdoors. We lounge on the loveseat with wool blankets and thick socks to watch a film on Taelor’s laptop or hover over the popcorn bowl while twitching in the chill. She is off to work for the rest of the evening and I don weighty sweat pants and triple layer on top. This is a similar climate to Port Townsend, damp and a bit windy from the coast…sans sea water, of course. We had a fire lit in the wood burning stove in Washington from September until the end of May. I settle-in for a long night of reading and writing, leg lifts, and ankle turns here in West St Paul. Taelor will post this for me from work tonight, taking time during her break to send it out. I am very fortunate to have that option. Thanks Taelor!