My knee replacement operation took place at Skagit Northwest Orthopedics outpatient surgery center in Mount Vernon on Tuesday morning.  I use the term “outpatient” literally.  As soon as I awoke from surgery, every effort was made to get me up and out the door.  Doctor Hanesworth said the operation went according to plan.  The good part of the knee stayed, the bad part was taken out and replaced.

No Mr. Cornelius, we will not be disturbing anything down there!

I was feeling giddy on Wednesday.  I had no pain and was thinking this operation was a piece of cake.  I don’t need no pain medication!  By dinnertime my perspective changed.  The local anesthesia wore off and I was in agony.  My knee was a train wreck.

Like peanut butter and jelly or macaroni and cheese, the combination of Percocet and Vistaril work wonders, especially when one is in a good deal of pain.  Used together, on a four to six hour interval, these two drugs provide my chemical pain management (Lisa provides for my physical and emotional pain management).  I learned the hard way, I don’t want to reduce the pill’s frequency of use.  If I do, the pain becomes unmanageable.  My Wednesday night lesson had been learned.  Lisa gets me up every night to make sure I stay on my medication schedule.

One of the most unpleasant side effects of Percocet and Vistaril is that my mind is in a constant fog.  As such, I’ve suspended day trading and in making any important decisions.  Lisa said something about buying a new car when I was in surgery, but I can’t remember the specifics.  

I began my physical therapy sessions on Friday from Kim Miller.  “Ice and movement are your friend” said Kim.  I’m staying on schedule with my exercises as well as with the ice applications.  

My sweet wife bought a “Cold Rush” machine, a machine which keeps cold water circulating around my knee.  With Lisa’s help I’m hoping for a speedy recovery.

Here is a picture of my left leg.  I’ve been instructed to leave the big bandage on until I see the doctor in a couple of weeks.  The incisions above and below my knee are confusing.  Lisa and I guess they have something to do with the robot that was used during the surgery.  Do you have any ideas?

Lisa and I spent last weekend with Ian, Kaylene, and family.  Sunday was Foster’s baby blessing at church.   

On Saturday, while the girls got their nails done, Ian, Lucas and I learned how to squid fish.  We received an hour of in-class instruction at the Point Defiance Marina in Tacoma, and then we made our way to the dock to see if we could catch any of them.  I caught one!  We took him home and Ian cleaned the squid and fried him up as a dinner appetizer.   Not bad.

 

Lisa and I awoke this morning to the declining darkness and the promise of a clear blue morning sky.  My iPhone weather app said it was thirty-nine degrees, no wind.  Perfect conditions.  Before long I had dressed for the occasion, layering for the cold.  It would be a celebration of sorts.  An observance of the passing of time.  Funny to think this would be my last run.  I’ll never do it again, or so the doctor recommends.  Nine knee surgeries and the passage of forty-five years has taken its toll and brought me to this point.  Next week I’ll have knee replacement surgery.  So, farewell knee!  We’ve traveled the world together.  Thanks for accompanying me all this time.  I’ll miss you, but not the pain.

Lisa has decked our halls this year for Christmas.  Many of our decorations are displayed, bringing forth memories of Christmas past.  Christmas was always a huge holiday in the household of my youth and in the home of my children.  My parents were generally frugal through out the year, but not at Christmas time.  I learned to apply the same concept.  Therefore, I went out of my way to make Christmas special for our family.

The only negative to this year decorating is the lack of a fresh Christmas tree harvested from the field.  Because of my knee surgery scheduled for next week, Lisa and I agreed there just wasn’t enough time this year for our favorite Noble Fir Christmas tree.  Sadly, an artificial tree stands decorated in the corner of the living room.

Sasha, James, Elijah, and Ezra drove out from Utah to spend Thanksgiving week with us and we had a wonderful time together.  We spent a few days in Victoria, BC (James had yet to cross the border into Canada) and took in a couple of tourist attractions.  See pictures below of our time together.  Oh yes, Sasha is pregnant!

OSU 43 Year Cheerleder Reunion

I had contemplated the idea for a number of years but never acted on the impression.  Luckily, someone from the group put forth the effort of tracking everyone down and then began a conversation.  That someone was Rick Coutin. 

I received a Facebook message a number of months ago from Rick.  He was reconnecting after 43 years.  Rick suggested our OSU cheerleading squad, from 1973-74, get together for a reunion.  The idea was planted.  Eventually, everyone on the squad was found and the reunion became reality last weekend in Corvallis.

Our weekend festivities began on Friday night at the Big River Restaurant.  Brian and I brought old photos and we all had a good laugh.  Were we ever that young?  

Pictured above are Kathi Hart from Georgia, Chris Commons from Tennessee, J’nene Beeman from Corvallis, Brian Butler from Seattle, Rick Coutin from California, Carl Paasche from Portland, and yours truly.  Janice Byer and Janice Hironaka were unable to make the reunion.  Thanks to Lisa for being the designated photographer for the weekend. 

The OSU Pep Band made an appearance at the restaurant while we were there.

On Saturday, before the big homecoming football game with Washington State, we met with the current OSU cheerleading squad (they are now called cheer athletes).  They were on a tight schedule and could only devote 5 minutes of their time to us.   

When we were cheerleaders in 1973-74 there were four guys and 4/5 girls.  Look how many there are now!  In addition, the cheer athletes today have stunt technicians and choreographers.  How times have changed.

They were shown pictures of us from long ago.  Pointing a finger back at us we said, “This is what y’all are going to like like in 43 years.  Get used to it!”  It was funny.  They had no idea how to react to that comment.  When you are young you can’t imagine ever being old.

We were invited to attend the “Walk of Honor” onto the football field with former student athletes.  While we waited on the field a lady came up to us and began to shake our hands.  We had no idea who she was.  Lisa finally asked, “Who are you?”  She replied, “I’m Kate Brown, Governor of the State of Oregon.”  Kate is up for re-election this year and she was out and about doing public relations work with potential voters.

The night included a tribute to the OSU football team, honoring the 75th anniversary of the iconic “Men of Roses.”  In 1942, led by head coach Lon Stiner, No. 12 Oregon State defeated No. 2 Duke 20-16 in Durham, N.C., in what was considered a major upset.  The 1942 team had one remaining member still alive (wearing the orange cowboy hat above).  Our cheerleading squad were able to walk alongside him onto the football field.

We sat together during the football game, cheering on OSU to what would become a losing effort.  So disappointing.  They had been playing well and had the lead at halftime, only to come up short at the end.  Just like the 1973 football team.

It was sad to say good-bye to the “old” squad.  We committed to get together before another 42 years had passed (ha, ha, ha).

Below are some additional pictures from game day.