End of the road

[pdedse]

Other than anecdotal stories, I won't have anything new to report until April 15th, which is when I have my next appointment with the neurosurgeon. Until then, it's just mundane crap like my lower-left back is absolutely hot knives painful now, likely as a result of favoring my damaged right side. I've ditched the walker and am now using a cane, and sometimes I ditch the cane too, but when I ditch the cane I'm still only able to do a side-to-side hobble, which is probably a leading contributor to this new pain in my back.

Oh, and this morning on my little walking trail some toddler-aged girl who was out with her mom pointed at my swollen, nasty-looking foot and lower leg and started bawling her head off. The mom offered me a look of furtive embarrassment and quickly moved her daughter along.

Yep, this is just awesome.

Not to minimize your pain in any way, but that's actually darkly funny. At least you can say that you (still) make the girls cry.

Years ago I went to my kids' halloween party at school and they invited parents to dress up along with the kids. Now I'm 6'3" and I dressed up as Shrek, who was popular with everybody. I looked pretty good, had a Shrek mask, put padding all around my torso, clothing looked true to Shrek...not way over done, but kids were excited to show me off to their friends. Was life of the kiddie party until little first grade girl dressed as princess arrived. She took one look at me and began, as you phrased it, "bawling her head off" and--would--not--stop! I took off the mask to show her I was a just another person, and then she really started crying!! I had to leave the party so princess could settle down.

All the kids were pi$$ed at her that Shrek had to leave.

Good to hear an update from you despite no great changes.