The Last Hurrah....For a While

At this time tomorrow I should be sitting in the Newark airport anxiously awaiting the boarding call for our first flight across the pond in over 2 years.  Maybe I won't be as anxious as I am right now...but I might.  International travel is so different these days!  To say we have had to jump through a few hoops is an understatement.  Add to the forms we have had to fill out and papers we need to be sure we have access to at all times, the ever-changing rules and regulations for travel in the times of Covid and you find yourself questioning everything.  Plus, there is the added uncertainty as to whether in 10 days when we have to fill out more forms and jump through more hoops to come home, if the rules will have changed again.  No reason for anxiety at all.  Not to mention the more serious stuff like, "what clothes do I pack for temperatures from 30-60 F?"  "What pants can I pack that go with my knee brace?"  "How many pairs of shoes do I need? Can't they see I am wearing a knee brace?  Cute boots or flats are just not working for me right now."  Yes, we are looking forward to the trip and I am hoping as soon as my feet walk out of the airport on the other side, I will breathe a deep sigh of relief and it will all be worth it!

Looking forward to strolling over these bridges again!

Let's just say, I am trying to make the most of the days I have left before my post-surgery recovery begins.  With each passing day, since February 2nd, my knee has felt better.  There was that one day...after the time I walked "as far as I could" just to see how far my limit was, that I "felt it"...a lot!  Some rest, elevation and ice were on the menu the next day.  At least now I know my limit.  To say my knee is on my mind for much of each day is an understatement, although thankfully, I am not in constant pain.  I really look forward to the day it never even enters my mind!  For now, I am diligently doing my exercises, icing and elevating when possible, and paying attention to my body.  I figure, the stronger I am going into surgery, the stronger I will be coming out.  

Speaking of surgery, the date has been set for April 6.  I plan to live it up until then...relatively speaking!  Sadly, I know I am going to feel a lot better going in than I will coming out.  I am trying to mentally prepare myself for this smack down, but can one really prepare to be smacked into 6 months of rehab?  I just keep telling myself I am going to take it one day at a time.  Talk about a drastic way to make a person focus on the present.

Before I get smacked down though...we are heading to the land of pasta and gelato.  We had lots of other plans for the spring, and it took a few weeks to rearrange those plans.  We now have a very busy Fall to provide rehab motivation!  One thing that did not get cancelled was a trip to Italy with our oldest daughter, her husband and their 3 sons.  When my doctor said, " Take your trip to Italy, we will do surgery when you get back." it was music to my ears.  It also motivated me even more to do those exercises every day!  Italy has been a giant carrot dangling in front of me.  I am looking at it as my last hurrah before the giant smack down and the long road home.  I plan to savor every minute.  Even the minutes spent lost, tired, arguing, cold, wet and hungry in a foreign country...because they will inevitably be part of the experience too.  Arrivederci!