Leslie - Such a pain in the . . . foot!

Leslie wrote:

I have been having trouble with my right foot for sometime. A few weeks ago the pain was so bad I couldn't even put weight on it. So I called the specialist and got an appointment but couldn't see him for two weeks. They told me to go to my primary care person and she had me go on crutches. They took ex-rays but the only thing they saw was some broken screws. I went to the specialist on the 8th of July and more ex-rays were done. The specialist said my foot was inflamed because my bones have moved. Because my ankle doesn't give the normal movement on my foot I am putting more stress on the ball of my foot. The doctor also said I have developed more arthritis. They are redesigning my inserts for my shoes. Because of my injury I will not be able to use my foot or be on it like other people. He asked what kind of job I had and I said I sat at a computer most of the day and he said that was good. So by what he said I will not be hiking or going on long walks anymore. Other than that I still have my foot and once I get the new inserts I'm hoping that I will be off the crutches again. I will just have to make my cane a necessity in my wardrobe. You know like underwear. Love you all and I thank you all again for your support.

Tammy responds: Your cane is a necessity . . . like underwear! That's an interesting thought. Frankly, it's a disturbing image. It reminds me of the guy on the 4th of July.

Leslie and her family came to my house and we went to the celebration in my hometown, Ridgefield, WA. We were going to attend the parade first and then on to the park where a piano player from Portland, Michael Allen Harrison, was supposed to play. He's been coming out to Ridgefield for about 8-10 years now and Terry & I have gone several times to see him. He's really good. He even played for Pres. Clinton on one occasion.

Well, the whole town must have come out for the parade - all 5,000 or so of us. The traffic was something that Ridgefield only experiences one day a year. So we opted to skip the parade and go straight to the park. Neither Leslie nor Iva felt that they could do any walking, or standing. So we set up camp near the play structure about 10:40 am. and waited. At noon, some military vehicles, and antique cars and tractors came in. The tractors parked half way around us. Dale thought this was pretty interesting. Did you know that Ferrari builds tractors?

We found out about 12:30 that Michael Allen Harrison wasn't going to be there. I never heard why not. A golden oldies group played. They were ok but it was such a let down.

But going to Ridgefield was still memorable. The mosquitoes ate us alive, all except Leslie. They left her alone. I think they thought she had it bad enough without them adding to her misery. There was also a reptile guy. He had several types of snakes and an alligator. He put on an interesting little show. And then there was a juggler/magician. He wasn't too bad. And he did one stunt that Leslie & I were at a loss for words about. He took one of those long, skinny balloons that you twist around and make animals out of, it was orange and about 2 1/2 ft. long I suppose, and he swallowed it whole. It was fully inflated! Leslie and I were waiting for it to come out the other end -but . . . or should I say butt . . . it never did. That was the highlight of our 4th of July. Life in the fast lane!