Last Thursday my physical therapist asked: "Have you been walking?" What kind of question was that? Obviously, I didn't fly into the room. I responded: "What do you mean?" She wanted to know if I had been walking outside. Like George Washington who could not tell a lie about cutting down the cherry tree, I acknowledged that I have not been walking outside.
Historically, I've walked often. For most of the past three months, I walked with a walker, wearing an orthopedic boot while basically trying to keep most of my weight off my right foot. That limited my walking to indoors. A ruptured Achilles tendon repair takes time to heal.
I mentioned to the physical therapist that I would be in Washington D.C. this week, and that historically when I'm on Capitol HilI, I walk at least seven miles a day. She suggested I might want to start walking outside now to see how I tolerate the activity. Good Idea!
So, early the next morning I announced to the General that I was going for a walk. Surprisingly, she wanted to go with me. Walking outside is not one of the things she regularly does. So what was up with that? She protectively wanted to make sure I didn't fall on my face.
Immediately, the General became a drill sergeant. Though I didn't articulate the words, by repeating after her, the cadence count was pretty standard: " Lift your shoulders, stand up straight 1, 2, 1, 2. Cadence count - Don't drag your feet, lift them high 1, 2, 1, 2. Cadence count. She sounded pretty much like a broken record. But when it comes to being a drill sergeant, she can play the part.
So how far did we walk? Disappointingly, we had only walked two miles. I guess there is truth to the saying: "Use it or lose it." I have been off my feet all this year and I guess it is time to pay the fiddler. I was exhausted.
Before days end on Friday, I walked a total of six miles. That gave me some element of hope that my time in D.C. will work out okay. I fly out today, so only time will tell. I suspect by the time I return, I'll be singing: "These feet were made for walking."
All My Best!
Don
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