I had my six-week post-op evaluation in Montrose on Thursday. Doc Sharp shoved a long, gloved finger into the upper reaches of my inner sanctum and asked me to turn my head and cough a couple of times. "Feels appropriate," he says. "Appropriate?" I say. "Well, in Med School we're taught never to say 'It feels good' when poking around erogenous zones." 😘
Doc gave me the go-ahead to resume my outrageous lifestyle—hike, bike, climb, run, jump, lift, cough/sneeze—using "pain" as a guide to let me know when I'm overdoing. "At six weeks," he says, "the "patch" is at 60% strength; it takes a full year to reach 90%, and two years to reach 99%." I was pleased to the point of giddiness. I grabbed and shook his hand, said, "No offense, Doc, but I hope I never see you again," to which he replied, "Likewise, go have some fun," to which I replied, "Try and stop me," to which he replied with a "thumbs up," to which I replied, "This is getting awkward, isn't it?", to which he agreed. The "rain" on this "Fractured Fairytale" is that we had to stop at Walmart for groceries. I guess "living happily ever after" is a day by day exercise (sigh). But come Friday, I donned a full pack and headed up "Full Moon Trail" above Crystal Lake. Aside from rapture, this, is what we found there…
Ms Autumn was at her glorious, golden peak, right down to the week, day, hour and minute, and I, dear reader, was back in my element. What timing. What reward. Tell me I'm not dreaming. Tell me I haven't died and gone to Heaven.
Glad you're back - and yet another to add to my list.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine how happy you are. I'd say don't push it, but you won't be stopped, I'm thing's.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your back. Not having received a reply to my recent "Bear Creek" email, I thought things weren't going well.
Happy Trails.
Glad to see your back in action! Great pics!
ReplyDeleteWoo-Hoo!!!
ReplyDeletenice welcome back--- Walden Creek RV steve
ReplyDeleteGreat news! I can see that your time off hasn't diminished your photo shooting ability any. Beautiful!
ReplyDeletewelcome back and thanks for showing us the gold in them thar hills...
ReplyDeleteLooks like Heaven to me! Thanks Mark, glad to hear your report is good....Now, you and Bobbie will be in your best element...have lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteLaverne
So glad to read that you had a clean bill of health:) Boy, that was perfect timing to hit the trail with those golden aspen. Wow! Sure was a gorgeous hike:) Don't over do even though you are feeling better!
ReplyDeleteWell congrats on the clean bill of health. Looks like you got the green light to hike just in time for the big show. Those aspens....wow!!! I'm missing the fall colors something fierce.
ReplyDeleteNina
Now that is a glorious and fitting return for someone who has had to be so patient for so very, very long!
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't have to miss the fall colors--awesome photos!
ReplyDeleteThe photos are stunning! Welcome back to the land of the hiking and in Autumn glory too! Easy does it
ReplyDeleteAwesome news and beautiful timing!
ReplyDeleteJust want to let you know I really enjoy your blog. I sit behind a computer in Arkansas all day and your blog inspires me to travel more. We plan on visiting your area at the first of October, thanks for the ideas on places to see. We travel in an RV when we go, and tow a tracker so I hope to hit some of the off roads. Life is good!
ReplyDeleteIt would appear that I left Colorado too soon. Ms Autumn sure has a fine way of welcoming you back.
ReplyDelete