WordSisters

Tag: wordsisters

  • I Stepped Out Of The Car …

    I Stepped Out Of The Car …

    Juan Jose and Crystel – summit Whitefish, Mountain.

    I stepped out of the car. My legs crumpled under me. A stark reminder that I needed to make a date to have both of my knees replaced.

    Gingerly, I straightened. Re-balanced. Even so, I walked lopsided towards the gas station. I took short little steps uncertain in my movements. With each footstep forward, I adjusted my back, testing my knees to hold me. To onlookers, it may have appeared that I had one leg shorter than another or hip problems. A little old lady shuffling into the station, focusing

    Jody

    on each step to avoid slipping on the icy asphalt.

    In the car, I didn’t feel pain. Juan Jose’ had been driving the first leg of our journey to Whitefish, Montana. Sitting in the front passenger seat, I was able to maneuver my legs, stretch, elevate my knees, and shuffle my butt around. The suddenness of being unable to move or walk properly after resting in the car 2 ½ hours was frightening.

    I hadn’t realized how unstable my knees were. I was well-accustomed to my knees burning and throbbing, having learned to lessen the pain with ice, ibuprofen, and exercise. Being crippled after sitting in a car was an eye-opener.

    Dogsledding

    I had planned our Whitefish, Montana trip to celebrate my 60th birthday. I wanted to introduce Juan Jose’ and Crystel to mountain downhill skiing, snowmobiling, dogsledding and cross-country skiing in Glacier National Park. Bucket list items.

    In the previous few months, there were several occasions that Jody asked me if I wanted to alter my plans. Perhaps, be less adventurous, more knee friendly, more old-ladyish (though she didn’t put it that way).

    I had planned this trip for well over a year. Reservations were made. Friends would be joining us. Knee replacement and sedentary activities would have to wait.

    snowmobiling to the top of the mountain

    The most difficult part of our trip would prove to be getting out of the car after a long car ride.

    It wasn’t downhill skiing 6817ft from the summit at Whitefish, Mountain or being a passenger on Crystel’s snowmobile as she drove to the top of the mountain or journeying with Jody by dog sled.

    I was comfortable in the car, but when I stood to take those first few steps I was crippled.

    I’ll be seeing the doctor tomorrow to set a date for my double knee replacement.

    Only thing is, I am registered to ski 15k on the Birkie trail February 22, 2019 and I have a trip to Florida planned the first week in April. I plan to paddle board, be a passenger on Juan Jose’s jet ski and walk on the beach.

    I’ll pen the knee replacement surgery in my calendar. Stop adding adventures. Promise.

     

  • My Daughter, My Inspiration

    My Daughter, My Inspiration

    At 3 years old, Crystel couldn’t speak. She couldn’t say her name. The only one who understood her was her brother, Juan Jose’. He’d interpret for us.

    One time, Jody, Juan Jose’ and I were at a campground, and each mom had reached it by a different path. Each mom thought the other had Crystel. Juan Jose’ said it the best when we found Crystel eye to eye with a white double-bearded goat. “Cissy, I so scared my heart go out then come back in when I see you.”

    The goat chewing her cud, the little girl waiting for her family to find her.

    It was tasked with her daily homework. A folder filled with pictures. I pulled a photo out, she named it, and we would go through the stack. Except, I gave up. I didn’t understand a word she was saying. I couldn’t comprehend how she would get any better.

    It was her speech therapist that said, “Crystel’s the hardest worker I have. She always does her best. Are you doing her homework?”

    That evening we started again. With Crystel in my lap, I pointed to a picture of fire.

    “Ire,” Crystel said.

    I moved my finger to a firefighter.

    “Ireighter.”

    To a shark’s fin.

    “in.”

    Of course, Crystel did get better, and she graduated from speech therapy by the time she was eight years old. She no longer allowed Juan Jose’ to speak for her.

    She had a voice. She had determination. She had fortitude.

    I became a believer. Crystel would be able to do anything that she ever wanted to do because she would not quit. Even when her mom did.

    Crystel and Juan Jose’ are sophomores in high school. They start losing electronic privileges if their grades drop below a B-. Crystel is a straight A student. It doesn’t come easy for her. She studies nightly.

    She will not let me or anyone else determine her life. She will not allow herself to be mediocre.

    Her passions catch fire.

    On several occasions, she has created convincing PowerPoint presentations to persuade Jody and me. I had no plan to travel to Japan. Her presentation included facts, photos, and vibrated with excitement. We will now be traveling there for the summer 2020 Olympics. We have a map of Japan in our kitchen. We have a Japan vacation fund.

    On our latest trip to Guatemala, it was at her insistence that we kayaked to a waterfront house for sale in Guatemala on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Walking around the property, I realized that Guatemala had truly entered our hearts. Our every other year visits would no longer be just about visiting the birth families. Crystel was right. Anything was possible.

    She ran the Wood Lake half marathon this summer with a friend. 13.1 miles. 8.22 min a mile. She had not yet turned 16.

    Crystel has recently become a vegan. If it was anyone else, I might think that this is a phase she is going through. Because it is her, I understand that she has embraced the lifestyle. She prepares and cooks her own food. I find this impressive, but it doesn’t surprise me.

    Crystel meets storms head on. Her face to the wind. She is living. She has a hunger to be and to do.

    Her current life plan is to be a Futurist. A Futurist is a person who studies the future and makes predictions based on current trends.

    Based on current trends, she will be just fine.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Climbing Mountains

    Climbing Mountains

    My morning stretch.

    My leg was stretched in the roll cradle when the Technical Manager came through the warehouse door.

    “No problem here” he said. Not even questioning why a Human Resources Manager would be in the warehouse with her leg raised in the air.

    He kept walking until he heard my tussling. “Do you need help?”

    “Yeah, my foot is stuck.”

    He walked back to me. Smiled. Lifted my foot from where it had gotten wedged into the crook of the iron.

    “No problem here,” he said and continued on.

    The next day, I was in the warehouse swinging my leg to reach an upright when the Maintenance Manager came by.

    “Beth, don’t hurt yourself,” he said.

    “You guys must have moved these uprights. I could reach them last week.” He chuckled.

    I’m aging. I’ll be 60 years old next month. I still want to climb mountains.

    My afternoon stretch.

    I’m finding that I’m not as limber or flexible, and it’s harder to keep the weight off. At my last physical, I told the doctor that even though I’m biking every day, my weight is exactly the same.

    “It doesn’t matter how much you bike,” she said. “At your age it’s about what you eat. You have to eat less.”

    I paused for a moment. “Well, that’s not going to happen,” I said. “I like to eat.”

    She finished injecting cortisone in my right knee. I have osteoarthritis in both knees. It is a degenerative “wear-and-tear” type of arthritis that occurs most often in people 50 years of age and older.

    When I hear of someone who has had a knee replaced, my attention sharpens.

    I’m afraid of not being able to climb mountains.

    On the summit of the Upper Mayan Trail with our guide Alex.

    I’m a 2nd Dan Tae Kwon Do Black Belt but haven’t been able to attend classes for a couple of years. I’ve run at least 7 marathons but haven’t run at all for at least a year. I believe I should do the things I can do. I can bike. I can stretch. I can climb mountains …. sometimes.

    My goal on our Guatemala trip this June was to hike the Upper Mayan Trail, hiking from the shores of Lake Atilan to Solola. Close to 3000 ft. elevation gain in 4 miles. A very steep trail, with beautiful scenery, and several encounters with local Mayan carrying firewood on their back or working in the fields.

    Jody and Crystel led the way, turning from time, encouraging me on. Juan Jose’ and our guide Alex were there with a helping hand. What a gift to have my son reach his hand out to take mine. And, a guide, our friend, who is such a wonderful role model for our children.

    I’m aging. There is beauty and grace in that.

    Note: the featured image is Juan Jose’, Alex, and Crystel standing on the precipice of the Upper Mayan Trail.