The Blackburn Digest

Last week, I tried to make an appointment with my orthotics guy. The shoes attached to my braces have soft, stretchy, breathable uppers; very kind to my oddly warped feet, but not very resilient. Time for new shoes to be attached. Surprise: I needed a new Rx from my foot doc!!

Yesterday, I made a very (I thought) routine visit to the foot doc. After all, nothing had changed, right? All I needed was the Rx, right? Well, yes and no. The braces and orthotics are doing their job very well - I am able to walk in a near-normal fashion and maintain my balance much better. I knew that. It is quite likely that they would continue to do their job for another ten years. Eventually, though, some fairly heavy-duty reconstructive surgery will have to be done to avoid severe problems (ulcerations, infection, etc.). I knew that.

From The Tale of Custard the Dragon by Ogden Nash (4th stanza):

Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage’
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.

I had a strange, Custard-the-Dragon episode yesterday afternoon and early evening! Odd - - I normally identify with Belinda (though in my case, it’s stubborness rather than bravery). Possessing a partially-tamed Irish temper, sometimes Mustard has felt like a better fit But Custard?? Nope! Not me! (Well, other than when standing too close to the rim of a canyon. . .Oh, it doesn’t have to be the Grand Canyon - Canyon De Chelly will do! O.K., I admit I’m also a total wimp about our Texas-strength thunderstorms with winds that bring down old oak trees or tear the roof off of my second-favorite restaurant!)

Tonight is definitely going to require a wrist brace!

No, I didn’t take another bad fall! Well, yes, actually I did. While I was gardening last Sunday, a patio chair attacked me. It won. But that’s not the reason I am rummaging through drawers this morning, wondering where all of my wrist braces are hiding!

Tonight is the NISD 2006 Employee Recognition and Retirement Celebration. I received an invitation, and I must admit it felt (feels) a bit odd. Why? Well - - - I didn’t retire gracefully after 20 or 30 years of service; I left rather abruptly when my level of disability was placed on a collision course with new duties added to my job description. Although I know I made the right decision, it still feels strange to be on the list of this evening’s honorees! Uhmm, back to the wrist brace. Last night, I re-read the invitation. It seems I shall be walking across the stage (glurk!), receiving my award and shaking the Superintendant’s hand, then proceeding across the stage to shake hands with each of the Trustees. Ouch! Double ouch! If any one of them has a Really Firm handshake, it will be whimper/ouch! Hence, the brace as a self-preservation measure:-)

I should have put a quick note here on Monday, reporting the (finally) successful repair of my long-suffering lap-top. However, I think the only ones reading my occasional ramblings were here to witness the event;-)