“You put your left knee in
You put your left knee out
You put your left knee on the table
And the doc will cut it out
They do the knee replacement
Gonna make you wanna shout
THAT’S what it’s all about…………
Thought for October: “ If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll have to be a horrible warning.” Attributed to Catherine the Great.
IBMA: A: Congratulations to three of our young ladies from the local bluegrass band, North Country Blue who were invited to partake in the IBMA Kids on Bluegrass program. I know of at least one proud dad, mom,and sister from Turlock whose buttons are bursting right now. What an achievement for them and what a shot in the arm for the CBA. As the Beatles said “Thank you, girl (s)”. P.S. Psst! Rhonda Vincent… You’d better keep your eye on Ida Winfree. She is only 14 but I gotta tell you, not only is she GOOD really GOOD,she has that inner drive that makes her special! Here she comes.
Congratulations B: Special Consensus for winning two awards: Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for “”Squirrel Hunters”.” and Album of the Year for , “Rivers and Roads.”
Congratulations C: Megan Lynch Chowning and Adam Chowning for: The Momentum Award for Industry Involvement and Achievement. Megan and Adam run the Nashville Acoustic Camps, music, educators, and artists.
I know a mother and a sea faring captain step-father who are smiling from ear to ear right now in my hometown of Hayward.
I am curious and perplexed why there was no mention of our local musicians being at the IBMA or the IBMA event at all on our CBA message board. I suppose everyone is caught up in this new fangled face book technology,texting, tweeting,twerking, and all that other electronic cloud hocus locus, Silicon Valley 666 new technology. What happened to my dear old pen and paper and rotary phone? I am a confused stranger in a strange land hardly recognizing anything or anyone I once knew.
A mere five weeks ago I went into my friendly Kaiser facility in Modesto to finally have that arthritic left knee replaced. I had wanted to have this taken care of many years ago, but with changes of insurance, different doctors, etc. nothing worked out. Finally the stars and planets aligned and I was scheduled for the TKR (total knee replacement).
I was actually a bit excited.Troubles with my left knee was making it impossible for me to take my daily walks. Stories about the magic of total knee replacement filled my ears as friends related their own experiences to me and my eyes were assaulted daily with tales of total satisfaction from enthusiastic receivers of new knees who shared their success stories on the web. It all seemed so simple, so easy. A little bit of surgery, a few days of recovery and back on the road in a couple of weeks. You’re thinking to yourself,”No hill for a climber” like the super man you are. I forgot to tell that to my aging body.
Ten years ago having a knee replacement would see you spending one to two weeks in the hospital. It does make sense.Your knee is going to be sliced open, quite wide, so the doctor’s strong but gentle hands have room to twist, turn,snap, break,and bust out your old arthritic useless knee to be replaced by a wonderfully manufactured replacement knee consisting of titanium and strong USA made plastic. It is not as simple as removing a splinter.
Today’s thinking: If you are STILL in the hospital more than 16 hours after having your knee replaced all hell breaks loose. The plan is to have you out the same door you came in as fast as humanly possible. I think this has something to do with getting infections, or being attacked by various hospital type bugs. Or they just want you out of their hair.
I checked into Kaiser at 8 A.M. Surgery was at 10 A.M. I was wheeled out the door to my car at 5 P.M. Nine hours and some change. I really was not prepared for the pain and the complete loss of physical movement. I had done my research but apparently I had glossed over the reality of the situation. Sitting in a chair or lying in a bed 24 hours a day in pain really isn’t my idea of recovery. It’s been about 36 days since being sliced open and I am just beginning to feel a bit like my old self. I have been walking daily and I even drove the car today for a few minutes. Hopefully by the end of November I shall be once again on my daily walks with Zoey and driving around my beautiful Turlock. Footnote: I was planning to have my right knee replaced in the near future but right now I think not.Who wants pain and discomfort at this age? Cortisone injections will have to suffice for now.
I thought I was pretty “tough” getting out of the hospital in just 9 hours after all the necessary cutting, soldering, and welding, UNTIL my brother in law, Celso, who was married to our beloved Mary, Sheila’s sister, who sadly passed away a few short years ago had his gall bladder removed in September. Celso is close to 85. His surgery was at 7 A.M. and he left the hospital at noon. It used to take five hours just to get you admitted to the hospital. Now you are admitted, prepped,drugged,operated on, woke up, recovered, and let go in five hours.
Until Friday November 2: Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, stroke a cat, eat a bar of chocolate and give thank
Brooks