Yaaaaa -
LB has her wheels back. Little things can become so important, and appreciated. Even Copper has his routine back.
There's something I never gave you clues about. Stairs, cane, and
railings.
Again, on my maiden solo trip 2021 (Greece), when knees were not yet replaced, I took along my friend the stick. Repeat reminder. . .ADA rules are not mandatory in Europe. Praise God they do have millions of really nice/helpful people. I Do Not Like my friend the stick. It's a PITA (paininthea).
But it works. Mostly it is needed to keep balance. Or if you fall, I was given clues somewhere about using the stick to get back up. That part I think is just so much hooey. The logistics of strength, balance, and grip angles I have yet to ace. The walker I only used about 5 days, maybe a week, when I first got home after first knee. Don't even recall using it for second knee. I still use cane when I go to mailbox or get paper, for instance. My other fun/neat change of getting around is when I feed the birds. (3 water features, 7 feeders back yard, 3 feeders south side of house) Very worst issue is
safely walking across yard of grass. Very unstable, uneven surface. My big idea -- I got myself a 3 or 4 foot x 18" mini red Radio Flyer wagon.
Unlike the stick, Little Red and I get along famously. I load up my many containers on Little Red, whose handle is then my replacement for stick. I sure do get comments, don't ya know. Adapting still goes on as I type this.
The other two points definitely go together, stairs and railings. About 10-15 years ago my front cement approach to the doorentrance began to flake (?) shale. When I had it replaced, from driveway to the front door, the step it had was slanted smoothly into the door entrance. Problem 90% solved. Should have done something about the 1 1/2" uprise into the house. My first handle was to help me handle the step, again a 1 1/2" step, to get from the garage into the house. Honest, try that while carrying a bag of groceries. Honest! After living here about 40 years at that point I fell going out. Better than stick -- two of the neighbor men each ran over and grabbed an arm and zip I was up.
And last, about the railings, I direct this to everyone reading this even if you don't have my years or LB's years. Install railings whenever or whereever you have even the slightest uneasiness. If you have anyone visiting, keep them in mind, and trust me someday it will be you. And, if you're buying a residence of any kind, think about older visitors or yourself at 50. My home was "no problem" for 40 years. Things have and will change.
Enjoy your recouped freedoms
LB! Just remember........
P
