Wrinkly Bits
A Blog by Gail Cushman
Originally posted 11/2/25
Free at last! Free at last! Cast is off and I’m free at last. My doc is a genius. He took a sharp knife, three staples, and slapped on a pink cast, and Voila! My foot pain disappeared, and I can do anything, well, not anything. He further clarified, “No running, jumping, or kicking,” as if I would engage in those activities. But, on the other hand, he didn’t say anything about rock climbing, skydiving, doing the bunny hop, or bouncing on a trampoline, so the list of “try this,” is still wide open.
I’ve had approximately a dozen different surgeries through the years, and each left me in better shape than I would have been if I ignored the issues. How well I remember the childhood chant “Head, shoulders, knees and toes,” and now I’m batting 1000, and still have a few body parts that they could work on, but I’m not telling which ones.
Having foot surgery is serious stuff. “Hop,” people told me, just hop on one foot. Use a walker and hop. The last time I hopped I was in sixth grade and the PE teacher insisted we learn the bunny hop. Hop, hop, hop, she said. I did my best but looked more like a grasshopper than a cute little bunny and she gave me a time out. I cried and the next day she shifted gears and taught us the Twist, which was a lot more fun. Practicing at home with the Hula Hoop improved my moves and all was well.
Confined to a cast for six weeks for a woman of my many talents is a sentence to mediocrity, laziness, and the doldrums. I was becalmed, my usual good nature turned sour. But Hallelujah, the jail door swung open, blue skies came into view, and my sails were once again filled. Yesterday Cowboy said, “You sure are perky,” as I raced around in my Velcro walking boot, almost as stylish as Cowboy’s three-year old Carhartts. And, guess what! A shower! What a blessed treat, I am saved! Saved I say. Get out of the way, I am back!
