Yesterday, I was a bit rushed getting in to Barwis. I stayed at work a little later than usual because I was talking with the PE teacher about the NFL playoffs. I get in to Barwis and Phil stretched me right at the Keiser machine. I sat in my chair and he sat on a weight bench. He stretched me out very well and I felt pretty good. He had to run in to the break room for a minute and as he stood up he told me that we will work on stands when he gets back. I was nervous to ask but I did anyway. “Am I getting in a harness?” (I really didn’t WANT to get in one but I resigned myself to do whatever he said) He told me “no.” I asked why and he said, “because I said so; and what I say goes,” jokingly with a hint of a smile on his face. As the door is closing behind him I smiled to myself. I was GLAD that I wasn’t getting re-harnessed even though I had talked to my cousin Kimmy and she pointed out that it could be good just to “reset” things if I had to get harnessed again. But, I kind of saw it like me as a child NOT wanting to take the disgusting medicine even though taking the medicine will make me feel better. Who really likes taking disgusting stuff?
When Phil got back, he sat down on the floor in front of me. I asked him if he’s holding on to his socks. He laughed and told me that I haven’t said that in a while (I REALLY haven’t; i used to say that to Jesse all the time!) I told him that I was going to knock them off and he grabbed my knees and told me to stand. He coached me throughout the stand. He reached up and told me to concentrate “here” with a tap on my clavicle (he CAN reach my clavicle when he is sitting down because he is TEN FEET TALL – really he’s 6’5 but considering I’m 5’0 he may as well be 10′). I was able to *BINK.* I held on to the stand until he told me to sit down. It was SO difficult!!! I REALLY had to concentrate!!! But I was determined to “grab my guts” and knock his socks off!!! When I sat down and opened my eyes he smiled and told me that it was good and that I stood for a minute and a half. I asked if I knocked his socks off and he laughed and told me that I was a “sock knock-er off-er!” It felt really good!!! I asked about Wednesday and Phil said he would stretch me and then we’ll try walking. SCORE!!! I stood a few more times but none of them were as impressive as the first one.
He stretched me out again on the turf (the table was in use) and Eric brought me a towel to put my face on. Backey took me out to me car and asked how my training was going. I told him how my right leg has been acting and he told me that a new sensation is progress. I told him that it was not cool because it was hindering my ability to get steps off and I want to be walking yesterday. He grunted sympathetically and told me that I AM making progress. I asked him “how?” and he yelled “YOU’RE WALKING!” This is true. Kimmy has pointed it out as well. I really can’t see the progress because I FEEL how hard it STILL is! I told Backey that I got in to my car by myself on Friday and tried again. I got halfway in. He had to lift me in the rest of the way. I told myself that I wasn’t going to let the help I needed to get in my car take away from training today. Afterall, I DID knock Phil’s socks off!