I’ll acknowledge I’m not the most patient person around and certainly not patient with myself….

I had arthroscopic work done on my right knee 3 weeks ago. I’ve been chompin’ at the bit to get back to my normal exercise routine. It’s not like I was on bed rest; I had the surgery on a Thursday and was teaching yoga on Sunday, but I wasn’t to use an elliptical or bike or go on long, training walks for several days. I was very surprised with this since my son’s leg was strapped into a piece of equipment that continually moved his leg/bent his knee immediately following his ACL replacement (both times). I had nothing close to that kind of work done so what gives?! I always feel better if I’m moving. My son did point out that though his leg was bending and straightening he didn’t have any weight on it—alright, good point.

But now it’s been 3 weeks. I was supposed to check in with the doc’s office—I did, in fact, I left a message. Is if my fault I didn’t hear back today? I didn’t think so either. I adopted the no-news-is-good-news attitude and decided that meant I was good to go! I taught 2 yoga classes and rode the stationary bike (only 2 miles worth) in between classes today and wanted to get outside. The weather’s been challenging around here, but the snow/ice was finally gone AND there was a break in the rain. I know the weather report said it was suppose to ‘dry out’ this afternoon so I took the break as an all-clear signal.

This being the PNW, I set off with layers…lycra running pants with fleece warm-ups plus long sleeve lycra shirt topped with a fleece jacket and a windbreaker on top of that. I even remembered to bring some gloves, but, what proved to be a critical mistake, no hat. I’ve been (reasonably & responsibly) adding distance as part of my rehab/therapy; I wanted to not only add more distance, but include some hill work. It was just an out and back course and the way out was lovely. On my return the skies started to look threatening. I told myself, it was supposed to be dry so who cares what the sky looks like! It was as if the heavens heard me….all of a sudden I was in the midst of a torrential downpour. OMG! I was stunned! There was nothing I could do but keep plodding along…soon perhaps dog-paddling along! Oh so miserable!  WHY did I come out for a walk?!  What a minute…what’s that? It looks like…could it be...yes! The golden arches!! I slogged through McDonald's door and was met with shocked faces.

I’m sure I looked like a drowned rat. I asked if they had any plastic bags and a young guy said, “You mean like a garbage bag?” I told him that’d be PERFECT. He came back with 2! What a guy! I asked him to poke a hole in the top of one while I poked holes in the side and top of the other bag. I wasn’t alone in McDonald’s but I noticed the customers kept at a safe distance from me……hmmm….. I used one as a tunic and the other as a burka. I’m sure I drew some stares as I was walking along the main drag in town; at least nobody honked or purposely sent a wave of water my way.

I was so thankful for the bags. I can’t imagine drenched I would have been.  As it was my shoes were so wet I could feel the water sloshing about my toes. I had pools of water at my elbows and every so often the fold in my 'burka' that filled with rain would overfill and dump not down the front of my tunic but somehow managed to run down in the inside of my shirt!! I know, I know it defies logic!!

An hour and a half after I started out I reached our cul-de-sac. Soooo happy to be home and humbled with the experience. Still no word from the doc’s office…let’s just keep this to ourselves okay?

Just in case you thought I jest....

 (raindrops affect on optics: not the best photo)