The decision came the day I returned two pairs of sneakers to a local sporting goods store: The bunion is coming off! That cantankerous, throbbing growth below and to the side of the big toe on my right foot dictated my shoe purchases for almost 20 years! Gradually, the dress heels I wore for work dropped from a modest two-plus inches to one inch or less. Pointed-toed shoes were replaced by rounded, wider toe box models. Boring and drab!

Still, the beast wasn’t satisfied.

Shoe purchases became even more restricted. Strips of fabric or other materials that cut across the bunion annoyed it to no end, hence throbbing pain. Some low-heeled, strappy sandals were OK as long as the mountain summit could poke out between two straps. Now, isn’t that just really attractive!

But when my sneaker purchases were finally limited, I knew it was time. In October, I made an appointment with the podiatrist who performed a bunionectomy on my mom several years ago. (Yes, there is a hereditary factor.) When he heard my story and saw the lump then the X-ray, he didn’t hesitate. He described the out-patient procedure, the post-op restrictions and, of course, the risks. Bill and I had already discussed timing of the surgery to be after the cow/calf pairs were trucked to their winter quarters; and after the Kansas Livestock Association’s annual convention the first week of December so I could feed the Bobsey twin calves while he was gone. Surgery was scheduled for December 10th.

Post-surgical restrictions involved wearing a protective boot, three weeks of no weight-bearing on the right foot, minimal mobility using crutches or a walker and keeping the foot elevated as much as possible. Also, no driving. It’s actually illegal in Kansas to drive wearing the protective boot. After that three-week period, I likely would be allowed to carefully and gradually start putting weight on the foot, but to still wear the boot for at least two more weeks.

With all that downtime, I needed projects so I put together a list:

• Sort through many boxes of pictures and ancestral memorabilia from both Mom’s and Dad’s sides of the family. Mom was the repository for these until we moved her into a studio apartment at the assisted living facility. I have three siblings and, except for my youngest sister who took home some pictures when she visited in the fall, none of them wanted much of this stuff. Guess who ended up with it!
  
• Read all the books I hadn't had time for;
  
• Check out some DVD movies from the library;
  
• Clean up and delete computer files and emails;
  
• Update all my financial spreadsheets for 2014 income taxes, including book income, expenses and sales taxes, my medical expenses, and Mom’s medical and financial information.
  
• Create blogs for future posting.
  

The next project was to plan ahead for my limited mobility. Initially, I opted for crutches over using a walker. Luckily, we have both, plus other home health assistance items left over from Bill’s knee replacement surgery a few years ago. At my pre-op appointment with the podiatrist, I was issued the glamorous boot (Not Prada or Gucci as I requested. Seems Blue Cross-Blue Shield frowned on these!). So I practiced using crutches while wearing the boot to build strength and coordination. Then, after surgery, the post-op nurse encouraged using a walker and provided one for a few minutes of practice. When we returned home, I switched to a walker, which is admittedly more stable.

The walker also proved to be a versatile recuperation multi-tool. I’m camped out on the couch in the living room for most of the day and need a table within arm’s reach. There is an end table, but it’s behind me. I suggested to Bill he find a board to place across the middle supports on each side of the walker. He found a “one by twelve” he shortened and it works great as a table! I can also use it transport stuff I can’t carry. The walker is also tricked out with a cloth bag for light-weight items.

The little portable table came in handy on a few days when Bill was gone at lunchtime, either in town on errands or doing farm projects such as fertilizing pastures and hay fields. I’d laid in a supply of nuke-able low calorie frozen entrees. I used my walker-table to transport my lunch from the microwave to the table and when finished, back to the kitchen counter.

One of my major concerns during recuperation was transporting my coffee from the kitchen to the living room. Dedicated coffee-drinkers understand why this seemingly trivial item is labeled as “major”! Bill is home most of the time so that isn’t a problem. But what about when he has to be away for a few hours? The solution is pictured below. I have a water bottle holder on a nylon belt that fastens around my waist. My coffee travel mug fits in the holder beautifully! Yes, I could hang it on the front of the walker, as in the first picture above, or transport it on the board, but didn’t want to risk the potential mess of a full mug of coffee toppling over. The little drink holes leak even when closed.

Another major pre-planning task was showering. Post-op instructions were emphatic about not getting the dressing wet! I was also advised that no matter how tightly a plastic bag is taped around the dressing, it will likely leak. We have a shower chair left over from Bill’s surgery. My bathroom has a one-piece shower/tub unit. We placed the chair in the tub sideways, propped my feet outside the tub on a chair, put the plastic shower curtain across my lap with the bottom turned inside toward me so water sluiced back into the tub. We also placed an old shower curtain over my legs and feet as extra protection. Voila! I’m able to shower and wash my hair without risking a soggy dressing or flooded bathroom!

Anyone we told about my surgery who either experienced it or knew someone who had, expressed the same sentiment: “That’s so painful” or “That’s the worst surgery you can have!” I was never too concerned about pain. The doctor prescribed two pain meds, Oxycontin and hydrocodone, and recommended ice packs to reduce pain and swelling. I don’t usually experience adverse side effects from surgical anesthesia or post-op pain meds, and didn't this time. I’d anticipated trips to “la-la land” from the pain meds, but that didn't happen either. I remained awake and alert during the day. After three days, I was still pain-free, so discontinued the Oxycontin. The next day, I stopped the hydrocodone and switched to naproxen sodium (brand name Aleve). The day after that, I ditched the naproxen. Apparently, I have a high tolerance to pain. Also, I follow directions extremely well so heeded the doc’s advice about no weight-bearing and minimal mobility. So far, it’s paid off—I’m ahead on the healing curve!

I couldn't get through this recuperation without my home health aide extraordinaire, Bill. We've always shared cooking duties, but now he’s doing it all, plus laundry and housework. He helps me get in and out of the shower and, while I’m showering, he assembles my post-shower and hair paraphernalia on the bathroom countertop. He even has my coffee, jug of water and newspaper by the couch when I get up in the morning. That’s my farmer and my love!

My post-surgical expectations are reasonable:

• To be fully recovered by March;
  
• To wear low-heeled, comfortable and attractive leather shoes for dress and casual events; 
  
• To choose from a limitless variety of sneakers. 
  

In the past, I dreaded shoe shopping. Now I can hardly wait to go!

Our Bobsey twins, Flossie and Freddie, continue to thrive, thanks to Mama Bobsey’s milk, the milk replacer supplement and grain. Bill estimates their weight at almost 300 pounds which is comparable to our other calves born at the same time.

Their increasing weight and push-‘n-shove enthusiasm when Bill arrives with the calf bottles prompted him to buy two calf bucket feeders—a bucket with a nipple inserted near the bottom. The buckets come with brackets that hang over the fence. For a calf, graduating from the bottle to the bucket is like a toddler going from a bottle to a sippy cup. But these calves don't sip, they gulp without coming up for air until the bucket is empty!

Bill introduced the twins to their new tableware before he went to the Kansas Livestock Annual Convention in Wichita early in December. I was the substitute supplement provider for a couple of days and Bill didn't want me to get trampled by the boisterous Bobsey’s stampeding to their breakfast table!

The feeding schedule also changed from twice a day to once a day. Each twin sucks down two quarts of milk replacer from their respective buckets and sometimes from each other’s, then they dive into a tub of grain, or "calf granola" as I call it. The term “dive” is almost literal, as Flossie decided she likes to eat with her front hooves in the tub.

Below are pictures showing their growth progress. The first one was taken October 16th of me bottle-feeding milk replacer while Mama Bobsey supervises. I gripped those bottles tight so the strong sucking motion wouldn't grab them out of my hands. On one occasion when Bill was feeding, Freddie sucked the nipple right off the bottle and got a face full of milk replacer!

The next two pictures were taken December 18th. In the first pic Mama stands on the other side of the fence while the twins suck from the buckets in their "breakfast nook". The second pic shows their "granola bowl", without Flossie’s feet in it and with Freddie wearing granola on his nose!

As some of you read this post, you may think, “Good grief, woman! Don’t you have better things to do or write about!” The answer is, “Well…maybe.” A few months ago, some of my Facebook friends unknowingly spawned an inspiration in me for creative writing beyond the barbed wire fence. It’s a fun project, allows me to flex my tongue-in-cheek muscles and keeps me writing at a time when I’m struggling for inspiration. Another benefit: This project gives me something to focus on while I recuperate from bunion surgery. I’m looking at three weeks of no weight-bearing on my right foot, navigating around the house with a walker and hopping on the left foot while wearing a big protective boot on the right. After three weeks, I can gradually and carefully start putting weight on the right foot. Hopefully, I'll be fully recovered by spring. Sometimes I can hear my Boggs and gumboots forlornly whimpering in the basement. I miss them, too!

Here is the first blog post for “Who or What Am I, or Was I, or Will I Be?”

Many people, at some point in their lives, face a complex and, hopefully, enlightening question: “Who am I?” Some intrepid souls go beyond that point to risk opening up a potential can of worms: “Who or what am I, or was I, or will I be?”

I recently embarked on such a journey—the one with the can of worms. In my search for identity or for who I truly am, I chose a highly scientific and impeccably reputable source: those quizzes on Facebook. They pop up on my timeline because my friends share them. I didn’t experience any transcendental or existential epiphanies; just cold, hard and sometimes brutal facts.

Previously, I’d ignored these little waste-of-my-valuable-time quizzes until, finally, one caught my attention:  “What type of home should you live in?” The post included an image of a picturesque farmhouse. So I answered the questions and guess what? I got, “Live on a Farm--You are down-to-earth and natural, capable, flexible, and easy to please. More than one person considers you their best friend. Others can rely on you when they are in need and everyone feels comfortable around you.” 

I was ecstatic! That’s me, or at least I hoped it was. That experience led to additional highly scientific research from impeccably reputable sources: More quizzes! Here are the results:                    

• “Who were you in a past life?” Based on my answers, I was Abigail. “Little is known about you, but you are a beautiful woman of strength, courage, intelligence, integrity and wisdom. You understand your place, and act with decisiveness. You are the source of wisdom and reason in your household.” Bingo! 
  
• “What clothing item are you?” I am a T-shirt. “You are casual and laid-back and you tend to take a casual approach to life.” Another bingo!
• “What kind of mind do you have?” I have a creative mind. “Creativity flows through your veins, you’re experimental and love new ideas and spontaneity. You’re loved for your kindness and compassion as well as your originality.” I've never thought of myself as particularly creative, but now that I’m an author, it fits. Not sure about the experimental or spontaneity traits. My tendencies are more “tried and true” and my actions are usually well-thought-out and planned.

Now, here’s where the validity of my research quiz results came into question.

• “What color of the rainbow are you?” I got green. Huh?! Green?! My lifelong favorite color is purple. This passion goes back long before I attended Kansas State, even before I attended school in Burlingame, KS, where the colors are purple and white. Family lore has it that when I was three years old, whenever we went to my grandparents’ house for family dinners, I requested the shiny purple aluminum drinking tumbler over the other colors in the set. I have to be purple!

<Sigh!> I may as well see what traits green people have. “You’re thoughtful, caring and considerate.” So far, so good.  “People know they can rely on you for help. You’re a great friend and a fantastic listener.” I hope people think they can rely on me for help, and that I’m a good friend and listener. Maybe being green isn’t so bad. Nothing was said about being an ecologically green person, which I try to be. Or, maybe this green thing relates to some of our farm equipment, which is John Deere. Although, I don't operate the equipment so am not really "at one" with it. I leave that to Bill.

If that revelation wasn’t disappointing enough, another image-busting quiz was about to pop up on my timeline:

• “What color is your aura?” I have an aura? Sometimes I wish I was surrounded by an impenetrable force-field, but never realized I had an aura. OK, what color is this aura, then? I answer the questions and get…green! What is it with this green stuff? “You are a natural child that loves animals and nature, and being out in it brings you peace.” Yes, I like animals and nature and I find peace outside on our farm. So, my aura and I are green. I still love purple best!

Another quiz invited me to see what cartoon character I am. The result was “Smurf—You love your friends and family and will do anything in your power to help them out.” I guess I’m a green Smurf.

Who makes up this stuff, anyway? Sometimes, the questions don’t seem relevant to the subject of the quiz. Or, none of the multiple choice answer selections apply to me.

A few days later, another silly quiz appeared on my timeline:

• “What is your secret talent?” Gullible me! I take the quiz and discover my secret talent is talking to animals. “You are very empathetic and you are able to understand even those who are unable to express their feelings. You are a mind-reader! How cool is that?” It would be really cool if I could read minds. But then, again, maybe not. The quiz was correct about one thing: I do talk to animals. I talk to Cricket quite often and I know she understands me. I talk to the cows and calves, even calling them by the names we’ve given them. They respond by looking up from their grazing or cud-chewing. Bill says they respond to my voice, not their names. But I’m quite sure Proud Mary, Snooze and Creedence know their names
• “What playground game are you?” I got marbles. How appropriate, since the ones I’m losing need to be replenished! But that’s not what the quiz-meisters meant. “People might think you are simple, but they aren’t enjoying the simplicity of life like you are.” I do like to keep my life uncomplicated!
•  “What kind of alcohol are you?” I am champagne. “You are glam, sophisticated and live like a celebrity. You take great care with your appearance, and can often be seen in VIP bars across town.” This is so wrong! Most of the question and answer selections didn’t apply to me. I’m probably lucky the composite score didn’t indicate I am rubbing alcohol! My favorite activity is tromping around our land in my gumboots and ratty-looking farm clothes, having them shredded as I climb through barbed wire fences so they’re even rattier-looking. I am long-neck beer and white wine—Sauvignon Blanc, please. I am a rural red-neck gal with a light, crisp, pleasant bouquet followed by just a hint of a sophisticated finish. Yee-haw! 
• “What is your Hippie name?” I have a hippie name? No one who knew me in the 1960’s and 70’s would ever associate me with being a hippie. In fact, quite the opposite! But, apparently, I have a hippie name. “You are Tree—You are in tune with nature and love being out on your own at times.” Okay, I can agree with that. I’m waiting for the quiz that takes this concept to the next level and invites me to find out what type of tree I am.

 I didn’t have to wait long.

• “What kind of tree are you?” I am a Weeping Willow. “Solemn and flowing, you are the Weeping Willow. Unique and beautiful, you rarely consider yourself these two things. Doubt and uncertainty seem to cloud your otherwise sharp mind. Others see in you what you cannot, which tends to strengthen your bond with family and close friends. You are quiet, reserved, and intelligent.” Whew! That’s a relief! I thought being a Weeping Willow meant I cried a lot, which I don’t. Actually, the description is fairly apt, even the part about rarely considering myself beautiful.
  

• “Are you left-brained or right-brained?” I am left-brained. “You are a logical and orderly person. You have a system for almost everything in your life. You like to stay busy and it’s important that you stay on task. You prefer to do one thing at a time. You are rational and detail-oriented. You love to analyze and you have a head for numbers. You are also good with words. You love to read, and you've been known to write well.”

This quiz definitely nailed it! This is ME!

My research continues. I hope to evaluate and analyze the data I have collected over the past several months (enough to fill a 12-page Word document, single-spaced, with one-inch margins) and post more results soon. Meanwhile, if you are not familiar with these personality quizzes, you can check out these websites: www.playbuzz.com, www.quizony.com or www.buzzfeed.com.