Am I Missing Spring?

Getting some fresh air today on our back deck - yep, I'm still dependent on my walker

Yes I am. 

 Every year I look forward with great anticipation to the first blooming my daffodils. This year I can only look at them from afar, my back deck.

Basically housebound, I saw the bright sun out today and the wind rustling the holly bushes.  I told Bill "I'm going out on the back deck."  He said "It's cold."  Actually, at 66 degrees it wasn't but it was windy and Bill feels the cold more than I do. I just wanted to breath in some fresh air.

On a day like this, in the past, I would be taking my daily walk back in the Oyster Rock development behind where we live. Oh how I miss those daily walks, especially on a glorious spring day like today. 

I have another two months to go (eight weeks) until I'm back to normal with my walking without the aid of a walker or a cane.  Right now the damaged tissue of my left leg is still in the process of healing.

This Tuesday I have a follow-up appointment with my orthopedic doctor.  This will be one month to the day since I had surgery on my leg.

This morning I took a shower, my second since surgery. Oh how wonder a shower makes me feel. Of course I have to be very careful maneuvering myself in and out of the shower.  I have this nightmare vision of myself losing control and falling down in my shower and laying on the floor, naked and helpless while the water beats down on my.  I'm screaming for Bill, who of course can't hear me because he's hard of hearing.  When I call him now I have to call him on my iPhone.  I don't take my iPhone in the shower with me.  One of my few vulnerable moments that I worry about. As I mentioned before, my iPhone probably saved my life that awful night of February 18th when I tripped over that frozen water spout ice and severed my quadricep ligaments that caused all this damage.  If I didn't have my iPhone I would have laid there all night until someone came in the hotel the next morning.  Now wouldn't that have been a pretty sight assuming I didn't fall outside in the zero degree weather and die of hyperthermia. 

The good news here folks is that each day is getting better.  I feel a little movement in my injured leg.  My biggest and most persistent problem is the constant swollen lower leg and foot.  Sometimes it worse than other times.  Nighttime is the best time for relief.

Alright folks, tomorrow I post a more upbeat blog about my trip to California trip. Back to good times before The Accident. We need an upbeat blog posting from Ron. Tomorrow folks, I promise.

I Miss Work

Selfie taken on moments before my fall on the ice that changed my life

One question that has been resolved since my accident of February 18th, did I still want to continue working?  

Now since I haven't been back to work on that fateful day I have the answer . . . YES!

The picture at the beginning of this blog was taken only minutes before I left work.  I took a selfie in the men's room.  About five minutes later I was closing up the Inn by locking the doors.  When I rounded the corner my foot stepped on a frozen mound of ice from the rain spout and, after trying to catch my balance, I went down on my left knee severing my quadricep ligaments.  

In the Beebe Hospital Emergency room after my fall

The damage done to my leg after the fall

My leg after surgery to repair the quadricep ligaments - my home health care cleaning procedure

The physical therapist introducing me my new friend - The Walker

Never in a million years did I think I would meet a walker so soon in my life.

Physical therapist showing me how to walk on stairs

Like my little flowered frock?

These pictures were taken the day after my surgery on March 10th, before I was discharged from the hospital to be on my own at home.  Thank goodness they didn't send me to a rehab center which they would have if I didn't have Bill at home.

I'm a quick learner

I have my cane, my crutches and my walker at home.  No wheelchair, I left that at the hospital thank you.  I did bring the port-potty home but haven't had to use it.  I can traverse quite well to the bathroom (thank goodness again).

Trying to maneuver my straight leg back into the wheelchair

Well, I'm still hobbling around on my walker. My left leg below the knee has been swollen in various stages since my fall on February 18th, that's a long time.  Sometimes before I go to bed it's throbbing so much I can hardly stand it.  Red, hot, and numb.  But when I elevate my leg, like I'm doing now as I type this post at my computer, I get some relief.  My very best relief is when darkness and nothingness overcomes me at night when I drift off to sleep.  I awaken in the morning and almost all of the swelling and throbbing is gone.  However, it returns once I get up and start moving around, which I have to.  For recovery I have to balance exercise with rest.  And I have to be very patient because it takes long time for tissue to heal, longer than a broken bone, which surprised me when I asked my home health care worker and she gave me that answer.

But folks, each day I'm a little better.  Still can't life my lower leg but I'm feeling "something" going on below the knee.  I hope it's not just my wishful imagination.

Anyway, I started out this blog by stating I miss work.  I do miss work especially on a Wednesdays and Thursdays, my regular shift from 3 PM to 11 PM.  And especially springtime when the days are longer.

There were times in the past when I wondered "Do I still want to work?"  Well, that question has been answered now since my forced immobility . . . . . 
YES!

Grocery Shopping Day

Bill (with the hat and blue sweater) checking out at Food Lion supermarket this morning

Off to the local supermarket store again today folks.  Usually I go shopping at least three times a week, sometimes more.  I always drive.  I take Bill with me, he sits in the passenger seat and waits for me in the car while I shop.  But now with my healing leg, Bill gets out of the car and pushes a cart.

I had given him a list last night for shopping today.  I wanted to go, just to get out of the house (I've been housebound for about five days now), but I didn't want to put Bill through the  tiresome ordeal of getting me in the car, then out of the car (he has to lift my leg, I can't). Then follow me around the store while I shuffle along on my walker.  However, I do go faster these days but anyone using a walker goes slow as you know because I know most of you have at one time or another been behind someone like me on a walker.  And don't tell me that someone like me on a walker hasn't annoyed you.  Well, I try to alleviate the pain of regular folks who can walk by going to the store early in the morning, like we did this morning.  This works for the most part but there were a couple of shoppers who seemed annoyed with me and my walker.  I.DON'T.CARE.

These days I shop for food that has a high protein content.  I'm told by my health care workers that eating a lot of protein will enhance my healing process.  And folks, I want to heal . . . . fast.

Getting "Pom" high protein drink.  Our local supermarket is starting to reflect it's more health conscious customers. Yes!

So how am I doing?  I still don't trust myself to walk unaided without a walker.  I do not want to fall again and set myself back on my healing process.

My home health care worker visited yesterday and said it won't be necessary for them to come back again.  I signed the discharge papers.  I have to say they were wonderful. Many good things are coming out of this accident I've had with my leg.  I've discovered how wonderful home health care is.  I've also discovered how vulnerable I am (and you all are) when you lose the use of just one of your legs.  You do that folks and you're down and out.  You can't drive which means you can't get to the doctor or shop.  Luckily for me I can get around on one leg thus I don't have to use the portable toilet that the hospital checked me out with my walker last month.  That contraption is up in my attic.  Who knows, we may need it in the future.  One never knows a this fact is especially true now since what happened to me and how fast my life changed.

I look out the windows and see the daffodils blooming.  I won't be able to go out and touch them or take photos of them because my walker doesn't work so well on our grass.

Oh wouldn't I love to take a walk back in the Oyster Rocks development right behind us on a gloriously sunny day like today.  However, it is not to be.  I am housebound again after a very successful trip to the local supermarket. 

It's good to be alive folks.  

Rendezvous In Little Tokyo

Me, Nadege and Pat in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

After a one day hiatus, I return to our trip to Los Angeles.  Pat and I were going to meet Nadege, a follower of my blog.  Nadege occasionally leaves comments on my blog.  Earlier we had met with Tony, another follower of this blog who lives in Los Angeles.

Pat and Nadege in Little Tokyo store - good thing I had to take a plane back to Philly or else I would have bought something I didn't need in this wonderful store

Pat and I were very much looking forward to meeting Nadege.  She always is so kind and generous with her comments on my blog.  

Originally we were to meet at The Grove, the chi chi "farmer's market" in West Hollywood.  But Pat and I went early to make sure we could find The Grove on the previous day and of course, we were enchanted by The Grove.  Nadege suggested that we meet in Little Tokyo, downtown Los Angeles, the next day.  

Well folks, again I was not disappointed with meeting in person someone who followed my blog.  Nadege is an absolutely delightful person.  What is it with bloggers and people who follow blogs?  Everyone I've met so far has been so nice, and kind and generous. 

I'm not going to divulge any more information about Nadege to protect her privacy but I will say that the time we spent with her was enchanting. I know that this is the second time I'm using the word "enchanting" in this blog but there is no other word to describe Nadege or our time with her.

Well, my home health care worker is due to arrive soon and I have to be in my bed with my leg elevated to take some of the swelling down, which happens when I sit at this computer composing theses "enchanting" blog posts.

By the way, I had some extra photos that have nothing to do with this post that I want to include just to give you all an idea of our continuing wonderful stay in Los Angeles.

Pat talking to a a fellow guest in the dining room of the bed and breakfast where we were staying - all the fellow guests were so nice - we will be back next year!

Pat did all the driving while we were in Los Angeles.  He had been to Little Tokyo before so he knew where we were going.  If we got lost, I had my iPhone with its GPS, which came in very handy.  Thank you Pat for driving!

I don't know what we're doing here but I think we're still in West Hollywood because of the Bill Mahrer billboard - Pat sure does stand out in his day-glo jacket doesn't he? We still weren't discovered.

Pat is an experienced city driver because of all the years he's been driving his cars in Toronto. You think L.A. traffic is bad, you should go to Toronto.  Now that's city traffic, a slow lava flow.  Pat had no problem with L.A. traffic.  

Pat in front of The Viper Room. Yep, the same Johnny Depp owned night club where River Phoenix died on the sidewalk outside from a drug overdose.  So sad.

Next year when we return to West Hollywood we're going to go into the Viper Room.  I can just imagine what the cover will be.  I was watching the Lisa Kudrow TV series "The Comeback" last night and she had a segment on the Viper Room.  Looked pretty cool.  Pat and I want to experience that.

Another selfie of the Two Old Pervs

Alright folks, sorry about this disjointed blog posting but I do like to get in as many photos of our L.A. trip as possible.  Now I really do have to get ready for my home health care worker.  Only one more visit (Thursday) after today.

Ron Gets a Haircut

Leaving my barber yesterday with my $12 haircut - refreshed!

Yesterday I got a haircut.  This is my first haircut since my freak accident February 18th. 

When I got home I took my first shower since my surgery March 10th.  Ask me if I felt like a new Ron. Yes!

I was hesitant to make the trip to downtown Lewes and my barber to get a haircut.  Getting in and out of the car and navigating my walker into the barber shop.  And then once in the barber shop how would I keep my braced left leg straight?  But I just couldn't imagine not getting a haircut for another two months, the length of time it will take for my leg to heal. I'm not one of these guys who ever went for the long haired look.  The longest I ever had my hair was back in 1982 and then it still wasn't half over my ears as was the fashion back then.  I've always favored short hair.  I just don't like messing with my hair. Especially now since I have a receding hairline that leaves only a "peninsula" of hair on my forehead.  Unlike most of my friends who have NO hair on their head, my father's genes did leave me with SOME hair, which I do not color by the way. I do color my beard but haven't since my accident.  Hence the white beard which automatically adds ten years to my age.

The longest I ever let m hair grow - 1982 - note that my ears are totally visible

When I was younger I actually had too much air, if you can believe that.  I had a whole routine to try and control my hair like putting a towel on my head after a shower to tame it.

Me in 1968 trying to control my thicket of hair

My Mom, who always wanted a girl (she had three boys), didn't have my hair cut for the first two years of my life.  When she took me out in public she was often greeted with "What a pretty little girl!"  Finally, one day my father had enough and insisted that she take me to a barber to get a haircut.  She said "That's when you lost your lovely curls."
Now I know what some of you are thinking, "That's why Ron is gay, his Mom raised him as a girl."  Well, I don't know.  I did like to cut out paper dolls and play with dolls.  I wasn't too big on cap guns and playing soldier (until later though when G.I. Joe came out and he was cute).  

Me, before my first haircut and when I "lost my curls)

For most of my adult life and still, my barber "thins out" my hair (now only in the back) because it is so thick.  

My previous barber (Joe Ursini) in Downingtown - 2001

Back in 1979, during my heyday in the gay scene I maintained a health mop of hair.  This is an oil portrait that was done of me in Provincetown, Mass.  Bill says it doesn't look like me at all but I think it does.  My eyes are a little too big but otherwise I think the artist captured my likeness quite well.

Me - oil portrait - 1979

When I had more hair in the front I actually had some blond streaks which isn't surprising since my father was a blond as well as one of my brothers, both Isaac.  These days my naturally dark brown hair has gray on the sides, which is probably all the gray I will get because my father had no gray at all.  Neither did his brothers.  I get the gray from my Mother's side of the family. No snow white head for me.

My father (and me) about two weeks before he died in August 2000 - not a gray hair on his head

So these days folks I'm quite content to shave down to the bare essentials on what hair I have left.  Gone are the days when I had a pompadour to contend with.

Me at 16 years of age (1958) - way too much hair to contend with

Yes folks, these days I am happy with my current hair style.  So easy to take care of. My barber takes the electric razor and just shaves.  Takes only a few minutes and I have the Look.

Me and a former classmate at my 40th Class reunion 1999

Me and my co-worker at First Financial Bank Downingtown, PA 2001

 See how I veer off the subject of getting a haircut yesterday?  Regular readers of my blog know that when I write a blog post I just let my thoughts flow from my head to my finger tips and let the post go down whatever path it finds.  Much like an overflowing river finds new paths for the backed up water.  That's me with my memories and thousands of photos.  

Well, it wasn't easy getting to my barber's yesterday.  Bill had to load me in the car with my walker then unload me.  Then I had to traverse myself into the barber shop on a very uneven sidewalk.  Then once in the barber shop I had to figure out how to sit down, keeping my left leg straight.  Then when it was my turn I had to figure out how to sit in the barber chair, still keeping my left leg straight.  First the barber chair was too too . . . ouch!  Then it was too high and all the blood was going down to my swollen left foot.  Finally we got the "Goldielocks" (just right) position on the barber chair and she commenced to shave my head.  And this folks is the result.  Looks good doesn't it? Well, I think it does anyway.

So how is my leg recovery going? I still need my walker (and will for another two months).  I asked my health care worker which was worse, a broken leg or my ruptured quadriceps.  She said "Oh yours is much worse, it takes a lot longer for tissue to heal than does bone."  Well, aren't I lucky?  I would have thought it would take longer for bone to heal but what do I know?  

My biggest problem now, other than being almost totally dependent on Bill (which is starting to get to him now, you have two months to go Bill), is my left foot swelling up.  The only relief I get is when I sleep at night. I'm unconscious and when I wake up in the morning my foot isn't a swollen.  But I can't stay in bed all day.

Soon this nightmare will be over.  Two months soon.  What keeps me going is the knowledge that my injury could have been much worse or even tragic.  I could have been knocked unconscious and died in that cold alley (five windy degrees) that night.  Or I could have broken my hip for fractured my skull.

I believe everything happens for a reason. I think the reason this happened for me is to make me pause and take a new look at life and appreciate what I have.  My health, home and life.  

I don't know how many years I have left nor do I know if I have yet another health crises waiting for me in the future but what I do know is that when I am well again, and moving about normally on my two legs I'm going to enjoy life and not waste time complaining or worrying about things I cannot change.  

Spring is here folks.  The daffodils are blooming and my leg is healing.  Life is looking good.

The New Everly Brothers?

Returning to our bed and breakfast from our Friday night foray on Hollywood Boulevard last January 9th, Pat saw a guitar in the living room.  He picked it up and started to strum.  He was encouraged by a singer we saw a few days earlier at the Whiskey A Go Go.  This singer was obviously making it up as he went along.  

Pat has been playing in a band his whole life (which is LONG time since Pat is 66 years old now, sorry Pat).  In fact, Pat plays in TWO bands.  One is called "The Burritos" and the other "The 45's".  In fact, as I type this he is rehearsing this morning with one of his bands. 

Pat and his bandmates do this as a hobby.  Their dreams of hitting the big time a la that other famous Canadian band "The Guess Who" evaporated many decades ago.  Now they just play for themselves and the occasional gig.  They do have a good time, and they are popular in Toronto.  And even on occasion they make a little money which they bank for the next gig.  

As for me, the last time I sang was in high school chorus.  I'm a bit tentative as you can tell. But doesn't Pat have a nice singing voice? Right on note and pleasant to listen to. He's been encouraging me to sing but I don't think there's much hope for me with my terminal Philly accent.

So without further ado, here is our best Everley Brothers tribute (or is it Buddy Holly?)

Moonwalking on Hollywood Boulevard

Back to Ron and Pat's Excellent Adventure in Los Angeles, La La Land. 

Pat and I continue our walk on Hollywood Boulevard, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Friday night life.  We encountered this demonstration of moonwalking on the Walk of Fame.

When I visited Pat in Toronto last August, by lucky coincidence it was the time of the Canadian National Exhibition.  Another "street fair" which I have yet to post videos of (and I will).  I did post a video or two of "India Night" which occurred just a few blocks down the street from where Pat lives in Toronto.

I have to say we thoroughly enjoyed our little jaunt on Hollywood Boulevard. 

Pat and I in front of the Pantages Theater

We were just like little kids.  Hey, it doesn't take too much to impress us.  We may be old and gray but we're not jaded.

Another selfie of me and Pat in front of "La La Land" of which I have no idea what it is.  

When I discovered that Pat would be my traveling companion I was ecstatic.  Finally, after all these years, someone who enjoys the same things I do.  Who isn't out looking for a trick (as previous traveling companions have done, the tales I could tell).  Someone who is happy to be with me and who is nonjudgmental, non-complaining, and just a nice guy.  The only thing is that I tend to wear Pat out because I go, go, go.  Not so much these days with my bum leg but when I got both of my legs going . . . . watch out.

Talking about getting both of my legs going, we decided to take the bus for the rest of the way back to the bed and breakfast where we were staying.  We wanted to try the much vaunted public Los Angels public transportation.

I have to say we weren't disappointed at all. The bus came by in about ten minutes.  While we waited we were talking to a young man (homeless) who was in L A looking for his acting break (hadn't found it yet).  I didn't want to embarrass him by taking a video of him telling us his story.  But it was an interesting story nonetheless. Just one more heartbreaking story of an individual seeking fame and fortune in this vibrant, beautiful, tawdry, hopeful and hopeless City of Angels.

By the way, Los Angeles just became the fourth city in which a stranger asked us if we were brothers.  This was twice in Los Angeles.  Once at the bus stop with the homeless young man wanna be actor and once at the Griffith Observatory.  We were first asked if we were brothers when we were paying our bill at Nectar in Lewes, DE.  

In November of 2013 when we were staying at the Latham Hotel in Philadelphia we were asked again.  And last year, walking down the street in Toronto, one of Pat's neighbors asked if I was his brother.  Well, I can say that Pat is my "brother" by a different mother. We have so much in common, it's uncanny.  I've always heard it said we have a double in the world, I think I met mine in Pat.