I’m back home after surgery, and thanks for all the good wishes.

It’s very nice to be home. I’ll keep this brief.

The operation was delayed for two hours and then took nearly your. My foot is still numb, and I have been warned to take some pain medication the second the numbness fades, which should be in an hour or so.

But so far, all I feel is wobbly but clear.

My toe is enveloped in a bandage cocoon and a rigid bottom surgical shoe.  I must wear it day and night at least until Monday when I see the surgeon and probably for another week. It is almost impossible to walk in this shoe, so I’ll be lying down.

I have to have my foot up higher than my heart for most of every hour and wrap it in ice for 20 minutes of every hour at least until Monday.

So they aren’t fooling around. I was warned not to try to write or make decisions or step until for 48 hours, but I can stand up okay, and I am having no trouble writing this, although I’ll keep it brief. No pain yet, until the anesthetic wears off.

I remember absolutely nothing about the surgery; even though I had a local anesthetic,  I went to sleep, or at least I think I did the second I got into the operating room.

I was prepped within an inch of my life and asked a thousand questions a thousand times.

Maria waited patiently and graciously outside for the entire time, which was five or six hours. I am grateful for her as always, and she is taking great care of me. There is very little I can do myself, at least for a few days.

As always, she sketched and walked and sketched and walked. I’ll put up some of the sketches. I love living with an artist.

I can’t mess around this time; I have to do what I am told and follow instructions. And I will, of course. I’m not doing this again.

I saw the surgeon briefly before the surgery, she came in, said hello, and drew a big “X” on my toe. “Just to make sure we get the right one,” she said, and then left.

I have to figure out how to sleep tonight with this heavy boot on and where. Tomorrow the apnea mask arrives.

We have fun and life with an artist is a joy. I got the message below texted to me while I waited in the pre-op bay. The nurses loved it. So did I:

I’m going to bed shortly, will post either in the middle of the night or tomorrow. It feels good to write.