It takes about a mile into my morning walks to work out the stiffness in my left leg. In many ways, it’s like a cramp or charley horse that needs to be worked out. I lean against some of the light poles along the path through our neighborhood, heels flat on the ground, and extend my legs into a hamstring stretch, arching my back to relieve some of pressure on my spine. Massage to my lower back also seems to help, but it remains an uncomfortable experience. 

Laying flat on my back with the back of my  head touching the floor or flattening my spine against the wall will hopefully help my posture. I tend to stoop when I stand or walk, so I need to stay conscious about being erect, forcing me shoulders back. The posture issue is causing the discomfort in my lower back and leg muscles, mildly atrophied during my recent hospital stay. 

Sitting upright and erect are also key, since I now spend more time lounging than standing. Chin up…head back…shoulders straight is my goal, even though my chest aches from the incision scars and my neck is sore from lack of exercise. I need to make more progress. It will be eight weeks in a few days. 

Jax, Tally’s schnauzer boyfriend, was there to greet her for this morning’s reunion at Schnauzerville. She should be content in the four weeks we’re gone on this trip. It’s her home away from home. 

My precocious five-year-old granddaughter got a huge kick about “flying” over the seven Venetian-like bridges in the passenger seat of our golf cart. Although I’ve curbed the speed a bit after surgery, it was still a thrilling rollercoaster ride over the alligator infested canals that wind throughout our Islandwalk Community. She enjoyed a frozen strawberry popsicle to celebrate, draped in a towel to prevent any stains on her pretty dress with heart shapes. She was winning mine today, now that it’s repaired. 

We were in-flight overnight from Atlanta to Buenos Aires, arriving on festive St. Patrick’s Day. The flight was uneventful. My wife slept most of the way so I devoured her two meals and watched “Ferrari,” “The Hunger Games” prequel, and “Everest,” a climbing documentary. We arrived at 9am, getting back the hour just  lost from springing forward. 

We met up with our once Decatur neighbors on the boat, who arrived from their retirement home of Marana, AZ via Miami. We had to go north illogically from Tampa through Atlanta to travel South across the equator on Delta Airlines. An old friend is staying at our house after, driving us the two hours to the airport to avoid a month of parking fees. In mid-April, a neighbor friend will pick us up in Tampa and drive us home. 

I discovered through Facebook that a high school classmate was disembarking the ship just as we were getting on. We were so close to reconnecting in person but will have to settle on messages, posts, and e-mails to exchange pictures as we go our separate ways again. So close – so far, Janey! There is a 55th Elkhart High School reunion in early September, but I’m unable to attend. I’ve yet to learn her plans.

Continued…