Back on My Feet

I saw the doctor today. He said my ankle looked very good, despite the fact that it was still swollen and turning yellow (after having been purple). Nothing was broken, nothing was torn, and my ankle seemed really strong. He said to start walking on it, and that I could ride my bike again. Yay!

This was the best news of the day. Before that I quite a morning. Yesterday I used a cane to get around, and I had a ride to and from work. My entire leg hurt last night, and I worried that I overdid it. So I decided I would take the crutches again today. I had to drive because I had a doctor's appointment, but I was worried about parking in my usual spot, which was two blocks from my office building. That was a lot of walking on crutches. (Nobody tells you how much it hurts your arms and the chafing you get under your arms from the crutches!)

So I decided to try to find a parking lot closer to the building. There were two that I knew of. I took the usual route to work, but had to drive around a little to get to the lots. As I made a right turn on one of the streets, a cop waved at me to stop. I wondered if something was going on - someone crossing or something. Then he came to my window. Oh crap.

I opened my window. "What did I do?" I asked in a shaky voice. "You made an illegal turn." I truly had no idea. I didn't see any signs but I was nervous as it was trying to find a place to park. "I didn't see the signs." The cop proceeded to tell me there were 4 different signs I couldn't help but see and that I needed to follow the traffic laws. He took my license and insurance and went back to his car. I don't know if he saw the crutches in the back seat, but I didn't think I'd sound sympathetic enough if I explained what I was doing. I would sound silly, not sympathetic.

He gave me a ticket. Wonderful. I was near tears. After that, I decided I wasn't going to pay to park any closer. I'd be paying enough with the ticket. So I ended up parking in the garage I usually park at. And hobbling to the office on crutches. I sat through a meeting and hobbled to another one across the street.

After all that I decided I would go to the doctor and then go home. I had enough. So the doctor's news was the best part of my day. I've been walking on my ankle, and it feels sore, but he assured me I couldn't hurt it anymore. In fact, he gave me strengthening exercises and told me once I could do those I should try balancing on the foot. Wow.

But the best part was that I could ride again! I don't know when I will be able to run, but at least I can ride!