Cowgirl Up!

Posted on April 27, 2019 by Sheila Morris

Big wheels keep on rolling, but small wheels sometimes get stuck in the mud that is life in the slow lane.

After nearly two weeks of birthday fun and festivities (seriously TWO weeks), my small wheels have come to a screeching halt with the annoying side effects turning seventy-three sometimes brings. Yes, drum roll, please.

Knee replacement is in my immediate future…like this week. Pretty and I have been to our class where I received my TJR (total joint replacement) bright green folder with the cheery symbols of I don’t know what on the cover and tons of information about my life for the foreseeable future if I survive surgery which has a 93% success rate with a 1% chance of infection, 5% chance of stiffness that requires one additional surgery, 2% chance of kneecap pain correctable with additional surgery, and oh yes, less than 1% chance of blood clots that cause death if not treated.

Too much information. Throw away this brochure.

Three days ago I had a total meltdown in front of Pretty and told her I had decided to opt out of TJR – not going to do it – no way, no how. I suggested she take the keys to the car with her if she left the house because I was planning a getaway with the dogs to an undisclosed location until the surgery deadline had passed.

But the next day I decided to get a grip and get on with it. Pretty deserves better than my shelf life, and so do I; besides, we have a granddaughter on the way this October – she deserves better, too.

Cowgirl up!

Stay tuned.

 

About Sheila Morris

Sheila Morris is a personal historian, essayist with humorist tendencies, lesbian activist, truth seeker and speaker in the tradition of other female Texas storytellers including her paternal grandmother. In December, 2017, the University of South Carolina Press published her collection of first-person accounts of a few of the people primarily responsible for the development of LGBTQ organizations in South Carolina. Southern Perspectives on the Queer Movement: Committed to Home will resonate with everyone interested in LGBTQ history in the South during the tumultuous times from the AIDS pandemic to marriage equality. She has published five nonfiction books including two memoirs, an essay compilation and two collections of her favorite blogs from I'll Call It Like I See It. Her first book, Deep in the Heart: A Memoir of Love and Longing received a Golden Crown Literary Society Award in 2008. Her writings have been included in various anthologies - most recently the 2017 Saints and Sinners Literary Magazine. Her latest book, Four Ticket Ride, was released in January, 2019. She is a displaced Texan living in South Carolina with her wife Teresa Williams and their dogs Spike, Charly and Carl. She is also Naynay to her two granddaughters Ella and Molly James who light up her life for real. Born in rural Grimes County, Texas in 1946 her Texas roots still run wide and deep.
This entry was posted in Humor, Lesbian Literary, Life, Personal, Reflections, Slice of Life, The Way Life Is and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

18 Responses to Cowgirl Up!

  1. Wayside Artist says:
    April 27, 2019 at 10:57 pm

    Oh my!! Poor Sheila! I hate surgeries of any kind. My knee aches in sympathy with yours.
    If you need a pep talk, my brother Mike, who had 3 knee, 1 hip and 1 shoulder surgeries, will be happy to give you a power point presentation on any or all procedures. He even has tee shirts. D’Onofrio men are odd. 🙄
    Good luck my friend. You will feel better. 💕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Dawne says:
    April 28, 2019 at 4:25 am

    Cowgirl I was just out walked today by an 80 something who had both of her knees replaced last year. She feels that it was worth it for sure. Her first surgery was smooth. Even though the second one was a little more challenging, she got good results. Good luck you have got this.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. rachelmankowitz says:
    April 28, 2019 at 8:54 am

    That baby is going to need you to do some running!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Apple Pie & Napalm says:
    April 28, 2019 at 11:36 am

    Girl, you are so strong, you can do this! I’ve had several people in my life that have had this procedure, and they didn’t have any issues. We all need you on 9 cylinders. Think of all the blogs you can catch up on and all the posts it will inspire. And a few days of the good drugs, too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Luanne says:
    April 28, 2019 at 3:10 pm

    You poor thing! Best of luck in all aspects. Praying for you to have that luck, too! And sending hugs from Arizona!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Animalcouriers says:
    April 29, 2019 at 4:33 am

    Do go for it girl. My Ma had both knees done at the same time and it went really well. Everyone deserves better and you have more responsibilities coming! Good luck xAx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Charlotte Hoather says:
    April 29, 2019 at 12:47 pm

    Happy belated birthday, all operations are scary prospects but good luck and chin up Shiela you’ll have all my prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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