Hiking the Paths of Knee Camp

Daily writing prompt

What are your two favorite things to wear?

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Let’s see. My two favorite things to wear would probably be my hiking boots with a really thick pair of socks. Here is a current photo.

In other news, there’s not much hiking in the woods going on around here. We are still living in Knee Camp, my husband having had his bum knee replaced with a one off the shelf a few weeks ago. It is a big deal, having one’s knee replaced, recovery is quite difficult, although it seems like everyone and their uncle has had it done. The scars are everywhere.

This has been a challenging time, but we are of good humor, both of us surprised that I’m not a half bad nurse. No one predicted that. My husband admitted to being worried about being under my care, my reputation for impatience and intolerance for illness legendary in the family. I was worried, too, knowing everything he knew about my 48-hour limit on compassion and empathy.

But, contrary to prediction, I have been nearly saintly in my care. Tireless, gentle, sympathetic, and encouraging. I’m not even being sarcastic. I told this to my daughter a few nights ago on the phone, saying I was surprised at what a nice nurse I was being, and she said, “So am I.”

But back to my boots. I just came back from a long walk in the neighborhood with Swirl and Tempest. They’ve not been to the dog park in nearly three weeks because of Knee Camp but they are game for walking on a leash because that’s what’s available. These dogs are not persnickety. So, walking in my boots means striding steady and fast, taking all manner of broken sidewalk and dropped tree branches in stride. It’s not hiking but it’s surefooted. And I like that a lot.

That’s it from Knee Camp. Nurse Jan has taken off her hiking boots and put on her slippers.