Four years ago, I broke my ankle really badly. Possibly relatedly, though no one has been able to confirm, almost a year ago my spine started degrading. I was incapable of leaving my bed to go much further than the bathroom - and even that was iffy. As a result, my wife has been doing most of the physical stuff required to take care of the house and our kid. And me. I am very grateful to her - the demands made of her were unreasonable but she handled all of them.
After I spent eleven days almost unable to move, my oldest friend traveled 350 miles to attend my kid’s birthday and basically bullied me into agreeing to see a doctor. The next day I trembled and whimpered my way down my stairs and into my car and my wonderfully accommodating wife drove me to a walk-in ortho. They prescribed me gabapentin and suddenly I was able to do things like take a shower. It was nice not to smell my own armpits every time I shifted.
For the next … Fairly significant time period, I was still limited, but semimobile. I underwent a whole battery of tests and let me tell you, MRIs and X-rays SUCK. They all want you to get in a position that hurts and then stay still.
Finally, almost exactly a month ago, I had a surgery on my spine. There was a noteworthy recovery period and I have some scars that might mess up my back tattoo, but yesterday I was able to take my trash and recycling out. If I had tried that any time in the last year I probably would have collapsed in the middle of my driveway.
I’m lazy, but in all sincerity, being able to contribute to my household in even a fairly minor way was so rewarding.
This morning I told my wife I was excited to try to bring the trash and recycling cans back in, but it turned out she already did it.
How rude.
(I kid. She’s a great spouse. I don’t know how I could have literally survived the last year without her.)
Your wife sounds lovely. Hope your recovery continues to go well.
Hurrah for a friend applying tough love!
Well done.
Your wife is a saint.
I got hit with a serious back injury years ago and I told myself that if I could ever get back to the fitness that I once was then I wouldn’t squander it by just sitting at home with the wife. And I didn’t.
We go climbing, surfing etc, snowboarding, ride bikes, kayaking and so on. We are building our house.Obviously there are times when all we can do is watch TV or stay inside, but nowhere near the amount that we used to.
You’ve only got one life, guys, I spent 3 decades just working and then watching TV. And then the last 2 odd decades actually doing something with my time on this Earth.My wife is wonderful.
Good for you for taking on life with a vengeance! I’m still at the “work and watch TV” (and apparently occasionally take out the cans) stage but I aspire to be like you some day.
I’m happy for you! That wife of yours … She’s a keeper. (I’d say : give her breakfast in bed) And your old friend is a true friend. You are as rich as one can become.
This internet stranger is proud of you!
