Above: Dr. Daly, podiatric surgeon, removing my stitches.

The excellent news is that my stitches came out, the original wound is healed, and I don’t need to go back to the doctor for three weeks. The bad news is that I need to stay off of my foot and in my surgical shoe for one more week.

Saturday, I can shower. Monday, I can dress myself.

. A week from today, I can put my regular shoes on, take walks, go to the gym. I’m going to the Mansion and Bishop Maginn before that deadline, it’s just time, and I’m fed up with lying around.

I want to return to the world. Dr. Daly and her crew did an excellent job, and I am deeply grateful. It could all have been a lot worse. I brought three packages of Amish cookies and one pan of Zucchini bread to celebrate.

The nurses love Amish cookies, and they said they might have to find a way to keep me there so they could keep getting the cookies.

But honestly, this very long and disruptive saga is ending. I find. Modern medicine helped me a great deal. Dr. Daly and her staff were remarkable.

Now I will focus more on losing weight, adjusting to my sleep apnea machine, and finding comfortable and appropriate exercise methods. All of this has been about making me healthier, and I take up that challenge and responsibility.

I’m also eager to crank up the Army of Good and do some good stuff for people. They missed us and are waiting for us to come back. We have never let them down; we won’t start now. Thanks to all of you for your patience and compassion.