Simple...Happy...Chandler-ness
It was a happy day! And a big reminder that simple things absolutely matter.
So yesterday I got promoted from a surgical boot to an athletic shoe—woohoo! No open shoes or flats for another three weeks. I asked, “What can I do now that I couldn’t do since my last follow-up?” He was pretty clear — no lower body workouts or excessive walking. “Take it easy,” he says. BUT….he said I could actually “go to the gym” and do upper body workouts.
So this afternoon — after a month of sitting on my butt — I got to work out for the first time!!! I’ve so missed my HotWorx sessions (love me some heat!), and as I scanned my brain for possible workouts involving zero lower body, I remembered the HotBlaster. It’s a stationary bike, but the handle bars move like an elliptical machine. I figured if I balanced both feet, one in front of the other, on the bar in the center and just worked the handle bars, I could get a decent cardio and upper body workout since I’m forbidden to pedal just yet. I suppose I could pedal with the right, but who wants to be lopsided at the end of three weeks? When I walked into the HotBlaster sauna, I was surprised and delighted to see foot bars I could rest my feet on! Easy peasy.
I hopped on and went at it — arms only, Dr. Cox….I promise, arms only. I can’t even say how happy it made me to just move my body again! To sweat and get my heart rate up! Just 15 minutes in the 125-degree far infra-red heat and my workout was done. More progress toward my post-foot-surgery normal. And I have to say now that I’m home on the couch with my foot propped up, I seem to have better range of motion with my big toe exercises and no extra swelling, a definite concern given the extreme heat.
For anyone interested, having my foot in the sun for two hours at soccer on Saturday resulted in some decent swelling and pain. Fifteen minutes in far infra-red heat has resulted in no extra swelling and better range of motion.
On my way home, I drove by the bike, ready to be disappointed again since they didn’t seem to be doing their job when I drove by last night. I was ready to fire them for gross incompetence, return them, and get a new set. Another pleasant surprise — they were lit up and flashing…not completely unlike Vegas. Chandler loved Vegas, so there you go. Apparently Chip accidentally put them in flashing mode when he flipped the “on” switch Sunday. No idea why they decided to work tonight but not last night. If they continue that irresponsible behavior, they will be dismissed. For tonight though, it made me happy to see them light up the night… Chandler style.
One thing I’ve learned since Chandler’s accident and that’s really hit home again during my month on the couch — do not take the simple things for granted. Any number of significant events could have happened today in my life, but I don’t know that any would have caused me more joy than sitting on a bike in the heat pulling the handle bars back and forth and driving by a bike with flashing lights.
Today’s Chandler-ness:
11/17/99 -
Today was Blue Ribbon day at school (for winning Nat’l Blue Ribbon award). This morning you said, “This is going to be the best day ever (as you dressed all in blue for the theme)! A couple seconds later, you called to me, “Mom.” “Yes, son.” “What’s blue day?”
At school you had a blue donut, pizza, a blue cupcake and blue punch. After school, I took you to Baskin-Robbins for ice cream because you had earned two cards for following the rules. It was one of those “best times of my life.” We sat and talked while you ate your daquiri ice cream and I sipped my cappuccino blaster. I told you that of all the wonderful things I get to do in my life, my favorite is to be with you and your brothers and your dad. I said, “Someday you’ll get married and have kids and I’ll take them to ice cream. And they’ll call me grandma instead of Mom, and they’ll call you Dad.” You said,”I’m not getting married.”
Mom: That’s OK. You don’t have to get married. But if you meet someone you love, like I met your dad and he met me, you’ll want to get married.”
Chandler: And it won’t be embarrassing?
Mom: No, why would it be embarrassing?
Chandler: Cuz if you’re not a grown-up.
I clarified that you won’t marry til you’re a grown-up.
This Chandler-ness to be continued tomorrow…
