Spring List!

To get me out of the post-op funk, allow me to write my annual Spring List.  You can view past list here and here and here.


I was reading the original Spring List tonight, from back in the day when the Spring List was teeny, doable, and had no history.  I picked six things.  I did those six things.  Much different from last year when I did probably nothing.  A simpler time when every other word was the boyfriend, Kelle Hampton (blogging idol, you know), and so many words were in quotations.  As if I was talking to someone.  The List was not so much about Spring things, but about tasks that would get me out of the shadow of Winter and into a kind of freshness.  I guess. 


The Spring List circa 2010 did lead to the most epic NSYNC harmonizing road-trip of all time with "the boyfriend" now "husband".  But, I digress. 



My point is, I'm keeping it small this year.  I'm on the mend, money is tight, and I barely have time to type this.  So, here it is, my Spring List of 2014. 

1. Turn this into something beautiful and functional

2. Take her on a hike and spend every minute telling her to stop whining. Then reach the top of the trail head and revel in her puppy joy.

3. Spend some time getting healthy. Ice or no ice. 

4. Get back to writing by a) reading about things that inspire me; b) experience things that are worth writing about; and c) writing. 

5. Spend a weekend outside, covered in dirt, happy, sweaty, pulling green stuff out of the ground and putting different green stuff into it. 

Things change but time continues to fly by.  I laugh at my old lists--at the style of presentation and the awkward ambition to cross everything off. That's perfectly fine though---we have to remember how we started to appreciate what we've done since. 

Ice

 

I have nothing prolific to say except that I have spent the last few weeks in this position or teeter-tottering my way on two feet.  Surgery was successful and surprisingly positive from the doctor's perspective.  Bittersweet Symphony played overhead when I entered the OR and I thought it was just the weirdest, almost out-of-body experience.  The nurse who took care of me is an acquaintance and says after, I asked immediately if I could go now.  Little I remember, except that it was fast and for a while painless, the worst being the IV in my hand. 

 

For now, the out-of-body continues.  Though the knee is functional and I threw the crutches to the side after two days, part of it is numb. A pin-prick numbness that is also painful with the slightest touch.  All of it is swollen.  The rest of my body feels sluggish and underutilized.  I long to participate and work up a sweat.  The doctor tells me "you will become a swimmer" and running is not a good idea.  He, my family, the physical therapist, everyone says to slow down, take it easy, relax.  But no.  I want to thrive! to explore! to conquer! to kneel at least. 

 

The doctor rents out an ice machine in the form of a cooler connected to a motor, connected to tubing, which wraps around the knee and circulates fresh ice water.  It hums quietly.  I should use it three times a day.  But, I'm restless.  Tired of laying around, instead interested in strengthening muscles and picking up the pace.  Yet, here I am, icing.