That’s not supposed to go there . . .

March 10, 2017

If you’re wondering why I haven’t been posting the past month, here’s why:

No, knees are not supposed to be that size.

So, I blew out my knee while skiing early last month. On the third run of the first day of what should have been five days of skiing in Colorado with my family, because that’s how I roll! Literally. I went tumbling pretty bad, and my kneecap ended up on the side of my leg. I had to pop it back in.

Then that happened two other times that day. Fun times! I cursed a lot.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to get surgery. It was just soft tissue damage. Less fortunately, it took nearly three weeks to get an MRI and get the results—I had to get back home, get another doctor’s appointment here, have them tell me I needed an MRI (I knew that y’all, I told you that), actually get the MRI, get the results—so by that time my right leg had gotten pretty weak. I’ve been doing physical therapy since then, which has been going well. I’m to the point where I can drive a little again! Which is good, because (one of) my other jobs is as an outside salesman (why does that sound familiar . . .), which has been hard to do without being able to drive. Fortunately I have a kind roommate who will play chauffeur for beer. Thanks Brian!

This experience has taught me plenty, most of it not all that interesting. For example: when I ski for the first time in a season, maybe I should warm up on some easy slopes first. Relatedly: I should remember that I don’t live in Texas anymore, and that I actually I live near mountains, so I don’t need to go hard from the beginning to pack as much skiing in as possible. There’ll be more chances, unless I hurt myself.

I also got a little firsthand experience with the Spoon Theory. (Highly suggested if you haven’t read it.) I understood the Spoon Theory before, at least intellectually, but I definitely have a deeper understanding now. When going to the restroom becomes a ten minute-long ordeal, and cooking a decent meal is going to set you back an hour and leave you exhausted (for a dish that used to take ten minutes), you have to plan out your day better. I wasn’t used to having markedly finite energy, but I learned what it was like.

(Of course, I’m getting better and will be completely healed soon, while many people who have to deal with the Spoon Theory aren’t or won’t. A taste is just a taste, and I still don’t truly get it, even if I’m closer.)

Mostly, though, it was a giant, annoying waste of time to injure myself. I don’t suggest it! But it’s healing, so hopefully I’ll be able to write more frequently going forward. Not having to do a couple hours of physical therapy exercises each day would sure be a boon to my writing time, lemme tell you. As would not needing to have a night job to keep myself from starving since all my other jobs don’t pay, but of course that’s another issue entirely.