December 22, 1997 - What next?

~~What next?~~

Sunday, December 21, 1997, 12:00 noon

WillaI'm sitting here in my chair with both the laptop and Pyewacket on my lap, which is making it a little difficult to type. We had an interesting night last night. She slept for most of the night on my pillow next to my head, and every time she'd turn over or stretch, she'd smack me in the head with her splinted leg. I'd be sound asleep and WHAP! she'd bonk me in the temple with the metal splint. It throws off her balance and she kind of waves it around like an out of control weapon. And she drags it when she walks, making a sound that makes me think (okay, we watched "Scrooge" last night) of spirits dragging chains, or a pirate with a peg leg.

WillaAnd as if we hadn't had enough excitement around here lately, this morning I had to go out and pick Bob up off the front lawn.

WillaI got up before he did this morning, and as I was going downstairs, he called out, "If you go out to get the paper, be careful. We were supposed to have freezing rain last night." So I did get the paper, and there was a little ice on the walk, but I got off onto the grass and didn't have any trouble. Bob got ready to leave about an hour or so later. I stood in the doorway seeing him off, and as he started down the sidewalk, I told him to be careful. He scuffed his feet on the sidewalk, and said, "It's just wet," and as I opened my mouth to say, "Be careful anyway, it was icy earlier," the next thing I knew, he's sliding down the sidewalk, out of control.

WillaHe veered off into the grass, fell down, and hit his head on the sidewalk. I raced outside in my robe and bare feet, and by the time I reached him he was up on his hands and knees, looking stunned. I helped him back into the house and asked him if he was okay. He said he was, and he blamed his shoes. I told him that we should get him some shoes, then, and he said, "But they're so expensive," and I countered, "Well, I imagine they're cheaper than back surgery!"

WillaHis clothes were all wet and muddy, so I went up and got him new things to put on, still feeling a little hysterical, and he set out again. Yesterday I said to someone (about Pyewacket's leg), "What next?" That still applies.

9:45 p.m.

WillaTonight I've spent the entire evening wrapping Christmas presents. Oh, and I decorated the Christmas tree, finally. I put only non-breakable ornaments on it, none of the blown glass ones, just in case. The decorating was intriguing and exciting to Pye, and she jumped into the tree a couple of times after dangling ornaments despite her handicapped state, but the novelty seems to have worn off. She's sacked out on the sofa with Bob.

WillaShe's getting around pretty well with the splint. We had to raise her food dish by putting an inverted bowl under it, because she can't bend her leg to get low enough to eat. Other than that, it hasn't seemed to slow her down much. She goes up and down the stairs, albeit gingerly, and she can still jump onto the sofa or a chair.

11:00 p.m.

WillaI finished shopping today. I know it's not much of an accomplishment to say that I've finished shopping when it's only four days until Christmas, but I remember years when I've been out shopping on Christmas Eve. I may do some shopping on Christmas Eve, since Barb will be here, but if I do, it will just be for fun. And we probably won't, anyway. We'll have a long lunch and talk, and then she'll drive to Topeka to see her family and I'll come home to get ready to go over to Bob's parents' house for Christmas with them.

WillaI feel sort of odd tonight, like I don't have to go to work tomorrow (although I do), or like it's not really late (it is). I didn't sleep in particularly late this morning. Maybe it's just because I've been more active than I usually am on Sunday night. Or maybe it's just because I've actually accomplished something--wrapping all those presents. But they're not finished yet. Tomorrow night Bob and I are going out to dinner and he'll do some of his shopping for me. We don't have any plans that I know of for Tuesday night, so I guess I'll finish the wrapping then.

WillaMaybe some day I'll have the experience of finishing everything up early for once. I wonder what that would feel like?

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