For as long as I can remember, the last week of October has always been a flurry of events to enjoy.
And not just local organizations and city traditions.
My birthday is a few scant days away from Halloween and it’s always been easier to celebrate both events together.
It led to some interesting parties when I was growing up and cemented a handful of traditions that still last today.
Keeping that all in mind, I’m currently sitting at the computer with my right leg propped up on a pillow in the chair next to me and trying to figure out just how much I can do this week.
While I want to be well enough to trek through the Texas Renaissance Festival, I know that’s a pipe dream.
And I’ve seen their motorized scooters in action and found them a whole other type of hazard at best.
So, that’s out of the realm of possibility this year.
When we last spoke, my orthopedic specialist told me it would be six to eight weeks of recovery time before I could put weight on my right leg.
That definitely limits my ability to go see friends for Halloween or tolerate crowds of people for the sake of winning a costume contest.
But, it’s also got me worried about my family’s annual pumpkin carving festivities.
In the past, my siblings and I picked our pumpkins and a theme for carving and tried to see who could make the best one.
Mom never was a good judge and would give each of us our own praises for our pumpkins.
The hard part this year is that I won’t get to pick my pumpkin out and will have to find a way to carve it without putting stress on my leg.
I don’t know if you’ve tried wielding a knife while one leg is stretched out on some sort of perch, but, I gave the experience a dry run and found it much more difficult than it sounds.
We might just have to forgo the tradition this year – or, at least I will.
That’s partially why I’m not at all looking forward to next week, but, we’ll have to see what happens.
My sister returns this weekend and hopefully, my brother will make an appearance, too.
At least if they’re both here then it won’t be a completely boring weekend.
I’m not holding out hope for a lot of fun, but, at least something entertaining and possibly overall memorable.
Not like I’m going to hold my breath on that last part, but, I can dream, can’t I?
It just feels like every year I get older that there’s less fun to be had, as if being an adult just sucks it all away.
Though I do know that this feeling is temporary, it is coming at the worst time of the year.
The holidays are packed into these last few months of 2022 and this injury has been the absolute worst wet blanket smothering the whole experience.
I suppose that will just make me more grateful for when the day comes that I’m healed and can walk normally on my own.
I’m just hoping that happens before Christmas!
