Sign Language

“I hated my physical therapist,” my buddy Jo says. She’s dropping off some breakfast pastries to keep me fueled after my hip replacement surgery.

“Mine seems nice enough.” I bite into a cherry turnover. Recovery is going to be bad for my hips and my stomach and my behind.

Three days after surgery, I walked into the PT clinic and noticed a sign warning patients to not cuss at or harass their therapists. Maybe Jo is the reason there’s a sign.

Post-Op Day 8 I’m back at the clinic, hobbling in with a walker borrowed from my brother. You know you’re really old when you can borrow a walker from your brother.

“I’ve never seen that particular shade of purple before.” Theresa examines my leg and foot, which looks like a black and blue clown shoe. “It’s almost like the color of a dress.”