It’s been more than a year since I could take a walk alone or with Maria.
I had to keep off my feet (or food) to try to heal a wound. I do not have neuropathy, but doctors tread very cautiously with diabetics; infections can be perilous.
Today was a happy day for me, a big personal success.
Maria and I took our first walk together out in the back pasture while I was wearing my new brace orthotics. It held up well, despite some new and occasionally painful knee pain from the change in footwear.
This is to be expected and why I can only wear the braces for a couple of hours a day for a few weeks.
Walking is my thing, the exercise I love most, the only exercise I don’t need prodding to do, and the one my doctors say is best for me.
I appreciated going to the gym while I could; they treated me very well there, although no one under 40 would even look at me. But walking is my exercise, the only one I always want and loved to do.
I used a cane today to help me move along; my Werewolf Cane from England is not here yet, I’m eager to get it. I took my monochrome Leica out today, thinking of taking some soft, dreamy like photos. I was going for mood. The sun co-operated. I overexposed whenever I could.
We had a lovely walk that lasted about a half hour, and it was a joyous experience for me, a kind of rebirth. We walked all the way to the back and round the woods in the back.
I was a little wobbly at first and unsteady, but it all came back to me, and I loved every minute of it. This is Bedlam Farm from the rear.
Tomorrow I’m hoping to go to Crazy Goat Lady Cindy Casavant’s farm and meet her new goat triplets. I’m definitely bringing a camera.
Some of the sheep tried to follow us. Fate pretended she wanted to do something about it. Zinnia took it all in.
We call this Zinnia’s pond now, she jumps in all winter, and today she had a blast retrieving sticks, the favorite pastime of the Yellow Lab. It was great to be out there with her for the first time in a long time. Afterward, I threw the ball for her, and she’s been asleep ever since.
I have to ease into it; there are no walks tomorrow, but I hope to walk just about every day by next Monday. I feel reborn.
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P.S. For those of you trying to start a fight about killing spiders (I don’t), forget it. It’s not happening on my blog posts. And, oh yes, please mind your own business, and thank you.
Oh good for you, Jon. It’s wonderful there is an exercise you can do with joy. It just an essential effort that gives you pleasure . it doesn’t happen very often — and I think it’s one of those great gifts god tries to sneak by without my notice … Until I finally get it that I’m not doing it all by myself. Thank you god.
Hi Jon,
I hope the shoe/brace work for you and you can continue walking. As an old PE major, I spent the first 60 winters of my life going to a gym, but that too has passed me by. I don’t feel especially welcome and certainly feel out of place. So, I now enjoy walking. In fact, my border collie forces me to go out a few times a day. From what I’ve read over the years, you like to be out and about, doing things. And walking has been one of them, certainly on BF 2. As I’ve enjoyed your blog for a long time, I kind of selfishly wish you well so you can keep writing.
Thanks Ed I’m good I promise
Woo Hoo, freedom!
I’m so glad you’re out and walking the farm again! I’m a walker, not a gym goer, too!