Tuesday, July 29, 2014

I'm Retiring

Wouldn't it be great to say, "I'm retiring and moving to Hawaii?"

But that's not what I'm doing. Actually, I'm more like trying to retire. Not me myself, but my scooter and cane.

Scooter has been with me over a year now making sure I get where I need to go without running out of air or falling because of a busted up knee. She's taken me on trains and planes and ships. She's been my trusty companion and she's been rewarded with a generous helping of stickers, both travel related and inspirational. She even got herself some new stickers here in Hawaii. But on this trip, other than the airports, I only hung out with her on the rides down to the grocery store. Otherwise she's been parked in the room.

And then there's the cane. It tagged along through my knee replacement a few years back and then started up with me again before this knee replacement. I used the cane the first couple days here but she's also been spending most of her time in the room. (Keeping Scooter company I guess.)

They are both on the edge of retirement.

I came cross a quote yesterday that read:
Deal with each challenge and become stronger. Work through every challenge and feel the confidence that comes from knowing you can do it.

While I'm not yet strong enough to do those things on this trip I wanted to do - no snorkeling, no swimming with dolphins, no stand-up paddle boarding - I am ever-so-grateful for both the mental and physical strength that builds every day. For someone like me - rheumatoid arthritis, limited mobility, paralyzed diaphragm, two knee replacements, two shoulders repaired, gastric sleeve - to get a second chance?

Life changing.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Nowhere Else

Cats and birds. Beaches and sunsets. Flowers and fruit and luaus. Our 30 year wedding anniversary. Nowhere else but Hawaii.