The Best $3.75 I've Spent in Ages
Because it was raining and I did way too much "crutching" yesterday, I treated myself to one of life's little luxuries this morning and took a cab to school. let's just say, it was definitely the best $3.75 I've spent in a long time.
My life as a four-legged creature is definitely slow-going and a little frustrating. Everything is significantly harder - from the sitting down showers, to filling a Brita, to handling the stairs. But, I saw a wonderful Frederic March movie on Wednesday night -
The Best Years of Our Lives . I saw a beautiful print, but I understand it's out on DVD too, so if you have three hours to kill, invest in this, the pay off is nearly as good as
It's a Wonderful Life (and ol' Freddy March gives Jimmy Stewart a run for his money - and Teresa Wright is as lovely as Donna Reed anyday). It's the story of three servicemen who return from WWII and the fate awaiting each of them on the homefront in Anytown, USA. Also, the title is slightly ironic, it all ends well, but it's not all ticker-tape parades and roses. There is one character in this film (an amateur actor) who plays a sailor who lost both hands in WWII. He is really handicapped, in this fashion. In the film, he is amazing at operating his replacement hooks and generally, so comfortable with them, it's inspiring. After seeing this, it made me feel a little less-handicapped by my relatively non-permanent and small injury.
Hepped up on the "I can do it" mentality, I decided to flex my independence yesterday. I crutched to the bus stop and took the bus to school (to me, this is an impressive distance). I made it through the day, and then I even crutched down MANY stairs and over three blocks to go out with my department for drinks (a drink, because I fear liver damage taking 600mg pain pills every few hours). Anyway, today, the net effects were exhausting and this morning, I opted for door to door service, but I will say that I am getting much stronger, dexterous, and keen on the "sticks."
Ending up on these things and forced to depend on people more than usual has helped me realize how many people here in Madison I have to depend on. Everyone's been so supportive and kind and willing to help. People show kindness in little ways - like leaving me a black and white cookie on my desk (this brought back so many good NYC memories), holding my crutches when I hobble down the stairs, getting things off the printer, carrying my books, picking me up and keeping me laughing in the car, and just being patient and walking at my slow pace and even waiting to "take a break" while I regain my composure and chat while I traverse a long block. One of my students sent me an email with this quote in it: "Our greatest glory consists not in never falling ... but in rising every time we fall."-Ralph Waldo Emerson (and having a sense of humor is so important). A big fat thank you to all.
Daily ankle report: My foot is now very swollen. Also, the bruises are more evident and my foot is now a rainbow of colors ranging from purplish-nasty to grossy green. Someone told me that changing colors is good, but I don't quite believe or understand that. I am going to have it checked again this afternoon, and with any luck I'll get more information about the severity of the sprain or a realistic timeline for recovery. At this point, I can't imagine walking up-right for another week, plus.
Aside from the injury stuff. I am bummed that H Dean is out. I really think he did a lot of important things for politics (young people matter, who-hoo), campaign finance (a little bit goes a long way), campaigning (a la grass roots and electric ties on the Internet), and the Democratic Party (dammit, anti-war is
patriotic, and the Patriot Act is
idiotic). Honestly, I knew that the end of campaign was near - but at the very least, I feel very good that I was a part of the change he represents. It's great to see individuals who really lead by example and let their actions speak louder than words and rhetoric. I haven't cast my allegiance elsewhere yet, but since our primary is past - there aren't measurable deadlines to force a choice (and who I support now is tentative and bound to change as the real race begins). It's still sad that it didn't end in the story-book way that a screenwriter would have created - but I am glad to see that Dean will continue his work through PACs, grass roots, and continue the efforts he nobly began.
The weekend... Honestly, haven't given it much thought. I need to take care of some basic life things - laundry, groceries, and gosh, someone should take out my garbage before the health department condemns my kitchen (it seems like there are egg shells and coffee grounds, um, everywhere). I'd like to take advantage of my laid-up-ness and work on my paper for the Chicago conference, watching Mekas movies and reading translated Lumiere letters. I think it'll be too hard to manage venturing out into the night scene, but if anyone is up for Scrabble and beers, I'd be game (if anyone wants to play in pajamas and frumpy t-shirts and slippers, you've read my mind).
posted by lmjasinski at 3:29 PM
