Day 24 -- Market Hall

Grocery shopping.

Day 22 - PM -- on my own in a wheelchair

The Friday reunion started out as a tailgate party -- not ideal for gliding (kneeling scooter) or balancing (crutches) -- so I asked Bob to drop me off at nearby Santana Row shopping center -- (pretty crafty, huh?)  Of course, I had credit cards and my IPhone -- just in case.  Au revoir, mon amour -- enjoy your reunion and I'll see you in a few hours.

I thought this was a perfect opportunity to see how "wheelchair accessible" this mall really was.   I explored the disabled restroom in the Hotel Valencia (great except the entrance door was heavy to open -- need lots of upper body strength), got a smoothie at Pinkberry (same problem with the entrance door), elevated my foot on the retaining wall for an hour or so (see photo), went to Borders (self-opening door -- thank goodness) and selected a perfectly accessible copy of "The Lost Symbol" (Dan Brown's new book).   The doors of several of the shops were closed, with no automatic opener -- definitely not disabled-friendly.  


This is a beautiful open-air mall (SJ's answer to Rodeo Drive) and they did a good job of eliminating as many curbs as possible.  I can't imagine what it was like before wheelchair-accessible ramps were installed.  I held my breath at the first intersection, but, then, I guess drivers are pretty careful around people with a bright white cast (with blue toenails) wheeling themselves around.  People were friendly -- even stopped the crowds so I could cross the sidewalk.  


I'm going to have Madonna-shoulders before this is done.

Day 22 - AM -- Deja vu

This was the first day of Bob's high school reunion -- a two day event.  Bob's sister, Becky, will join him tomorrow for the Saturday night festivities, but he asked if I would come along today -- if only for the ride.  We arrived in SJ early, had time on our hands, and decided to explore a bit.   Because we both attended college at SJSU, we started out the day on campus -- what changed, what didn't, how long we stood in line to register for classes, who put colored soapsuds in what fountain, what building was named after a favorite professor, long deceased -- you get the idea.  

Day 22 -- Do you know the way to San Jose?

Day 21 - Bien

Thank you for the blue toes!

Day 20 - Pet therapy

On the couch with Mallory.

Day 18 - Trip to SF for haircut

Trip to downtown SF -- this time for a haircut.  Still shaky on crutches -- especially when it comes to stairs.  Small distances become large distances full of uneven pavement.  All those years of noting whether a building has ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) restrooms, entrances, countertops etc. --- I understand!  The issue is independence.  Some things you simply can't do on your own...

Day 17 - Breakfast (again) in wine country

Day 15 - Figs from our fig tree

I know this will end, but I'm enjoying it while I can!  Bob is making these amazing meals for me.  This was breakfast this morning.  The figs are juicy, sweet, and plentiful.

Day 13 - New cast

The huge plaster cast and stitches were removed today.  Oh, how I hate having a cast removed...the loud whine of the saw, only millimeters from your skin, one slip and it burns -- well, at least that's the way it was when I was a kid.  No more, they tell me.  A gauze is applied next to the skin.  If the saw happens to get that close, it would get tangled with the gauze -- an automatic shut-off.  I don't believe them.


Foot looks great (better than before?), incision healed already!  New cast is fiberglass -- much lighter weight -- with a little "window" for a bone stimulator.  Because I've already had a triple arthrodesis, there is some concern of non-fusion.  The bone stimulator uses ultrasound to stimulate circulate and enhance healing.


We stopped at The Presidio for lunch -- my first (shaky) expedition on crutches.

Day Twelve -- recuperating in Sonoma

How lucky am I?

Day Seven - Pet therapy

On the couch with Gizmo

Day Six -- Scooter

The doctor gave me a flyer for a "kneeling scooter".  No, no, no thank you.  I can get around just fine with crutches (I thought).  Ha!  Finally coming to my senses the day before surgery, I rented one on-line (the vendor is "RollerAid") -- arrived via FedEx.  It's great.  Offers more stability than crutches.  Has handlebars, bicycle brakes, leather seat (for knee),  a place for a water bottle, and even a little basket (not shown in photo).  How cool is that?

Day Five -- Pet Therapy

On the couch with Mallory.