This Past Week’s Progress With My Ankle

I have news of progress concerning my ankle to tell you about.

Last week, I felt emboldened enough to not only walk in my walking boot out to my car but to actually drive.

I sat there in the driver’s seat for a few minutes, wondering if it was a good idea. But then I decided to go for it.

Yes, you’re not supposed to drive with a walking boot, I know. But had I let that stop me over the last 10+ years, I would have been homebound.

And a person does have to get out and do some things others can’t do for them. Like, having a driver’s license renewed. That sort of thing.

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.”

– Walter Elliot

After a few times driving through drive-thru places to pick things up, I then went to the next step.

Another Big Step For Me:

On Friday afternoon, I walked into Barnes & Noble to look at magazines. That’s the farthest I’ve walked yet.

And when I paid for my magazine and got back in my car (thank goodness for handicapped parking spaces), I was nothing short of jubilant.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

– Winston Churchill

Going into Barnes & Noble to the magazine section is something I really like to do before the holidays. I can grab a couple of magazines and sit down on the bench in the store to look them over.

There was a man also looking at the magazines, and he was on a knee scooter, oddly enough. I told him I would have brought mine along if it wasn’t so heavy to lift into and out of the car.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

– Confucius

I don’t plan to go into any other stores right now. There’s really no need to as I can have things delivered. I definitely don’t want to push my luck.

The Next Big Step:

Now, the next step will be to see if I can walk to my car in the parking lot without wearing a walking boot. It’s about 30-40 feet from my apartment to my parking space.

I know that I’m not to the point where I should try that yet.

But this goes to show, once again, that it is the little things that bring us the most joy in life.

The simple little things that are often taken for granted.

“Grit is picking yourself up and moving forward even when you think you can’t take one more step.”

– Christy Mossburg

I promise I will never take them for granted again.

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51 Comments

    1. Oops, I accidentally posted my name as “Am.” I need more coffee to wake up this morning, I think!
      -Pam

  4. Congrats, Brenda
    You just hit a milestone I was afraid you might never make.
    I’m truly happy for you.

  5. So happy to hear this,Brenda! You are indeed an inspiration and a brave person!
    And the photos today are really wonderful.
    Hugs to you, pets to Ivy!

  7. Woo hoo for you! So happy you were able to get out on your own!!! That’s progress! I’d say baby steps but that was a BIG step!

  8. Good for you! Our local Barnes and Noble used to have a bench in front of the magazines and I would always sit on it to look through several of them to decide what I wanted to purchase. They removed the bench a couple of years ago. I have MS, walk with a cane and cannot stand for any length of time. Another incidence of stores not understanding the limits of handicapped folks.

  9. This is fantastic news! I actually said, “WOW!” out loud when I read this post. I am so happy for you. 🙂 Keep persevering…you’ve got a great attitude and a lot of gumption. You’ve got this.

  13. WOO-HOO! I remember the same feeling driving after my knee replacement! Inch by inch- everything’s a cinch!

    1. Even if I couldn’t go anywhere without wearing the boot forever, it still puts me ahead of how it was with all the pain WHILE wearing it..

  16. I was only thinking about you and your ankle this morning Brenda. I have something going on with one of my feet where walking can be painful. As I walked over the parking lot to the grocery store, I thought of you and what you are going thru with your ankle and how awful it would be not to be able to drive the car or walk a little and then I read your blog!
    I am so pleased for you. what wonderful news! I can imagine how lovely it was to have driven your car yourself and been able to go into a store. Well done!

  17. Such great news🎉. I know you are aware of your limitations and that is good to hear also. The stores and malls are already crazy. I’m glad I don’t rely on having to go to a mall for Christmas shopping and can have my groceries delivered. I had wondered if after things calmed down from Covid if they would stop
    deliveries or curbside pickup but i think it’s here to stay! I am just so happy for you. And your quotes today were wonderful.

    1. I don’t even want to go into stores, except for the Braum’s Market a couple of blocks away. I can go in there and there are only about 3 aisles, but it carries most of what I need while also using Whole Food delivery. I haven’t even done that yet though. And I detest malls. No windows make me feel like I’m in a bunker.

  19. You are soooo inspirational!
    So excited for you. Have definitely taught me to not take my good health for granted and to work at keeping flexible and preserve. Enjoy your day!

    1. I did yoga stretches on the floor twice per day for over 20 years. Until my ankle got so stiff I couldn’t get up and down. Stay flexible!

  20. Brenda!!!!! I am so excited for you! I’m standing on my chair clapping and cheering for you. It’s obvious you took your time and thought about everything you were enjoying and doing. I can well imagine how happy and excited you were for yourself.
    Have a great day!

    1. Please don’t fall! It doesn’t take all that much, I learned 10 years ago, to have one little injury that turns into a lifelong problem.

  21. Yay! I’m sooo happy that you’re making progress Brenda! I knew u couldn’t sit still for long! Lol I wouldn’t be able to either. Brenda you’ll be walking around before Christmas!

    Check out the blog Lord Bryon’s Kitchen. He’s on his 5th yr of the 24 cookies of Christmas! Each day he will make a yummy cookie for 24 days! He just baked his 1st cookie for Christmas this yr.
    He has 12 day countdown series too, like Bundt cake series, edible wreaths, bars and squares, truffles…
    He really makes u get into the Christmas spirit of baking and it’s so much fun seeing all his creations that he makes!
    Have a great day everyone!

  22. Glad to hear you are walking some and even driving!! WOW, brave. I have not been able to get my courage up to drive here…such narrow roads and all!!

    1. Unfortunately, the Tulsa streets are pretty narrow too. But I’ve gotten used to them I guess. I can’t just sit somewhere and let the car idle with my foot on the brake. It’s too much. But I just put it in park and I’m good.

    1. I have learned throughout all this that I just have to take things slow and not do too much. Maybe it will always be this way and that’s okay.

  25. Yeah! You’re making such good progress. I know it’s slow but well worth the wait and all the effort you have put into it. I had a total knee replacement about 2 months ago and am finally enjoying getting out and about without a cane and walking normally. Like you, I will never take for granted the ability to walk where I need to go … it gives you such a sense of freedom.

  28. I used to walk in my boot to the car, then switch over to my regular shoe.
    It took a bit, but was worth it!

    1. I can’t push the gas and brake yet with just my shoe on. I have to put it in park when I’m waiting somewhere in line because I can’t idle with the boot on.

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