I felt tight all day at work. I was awakened yesterday morning about midnight in excruciating pain and to the sound of heavy rain. I had to get out of bed and sit in my wheelchair. My legs felt better sitting so I slept the rest of the night (all 4 1/2 hours of it) in my chair. When I got to Barwis i was determined to have a good showing but just as I turned my car off, my left shoe slipped off as I was moving the driver’s seat back. In this case, it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get my shoe back on by myself so I texted Phil to come help. Jerome was getting something out of his truck so I asked him for help also. He came over and was helping when Phil walks out of the roll down door. I wasn’t sure if he was able to come out and help so that was why I asked Jerome to help. I smiled and was happy to see that Phil came out to help me. Jerome finished and Phil came around my car door and looked to see if I was okay. I was. Then he looked at me and said, “Get out by yourself.” and turned and walked back inside.
I was determined to get out by myself and I did. I think I may have been a little slow because Phil comes back out just in time to see me about to wheel in. He stopped and said, “I’m proud of you. Good job.” and continued working with who he was working with. I was a bit early so I sat by the Keiser machine and waited. I watched the young athletes running with longing. When it was my time, Phil came over and told me to unlock my chair and pushed me over to the plyo boxes. He sat on the short box and began stretching me out. I asked him how I felt and he replied, “Tight.” Yeah. I thought so too. Bummer! He told me to go over to the white table.
I looked at the table and wasn’t feeling it. I KNEW it was going to hurt and I didn’t want Phil to hurt me. He looked at me and asked, “Stander?” I nodded and that was that. We went to the stander and I took in my breath. It hurt and my legs resisted more than last time. Mostly my quads but I breathed through it as Phil told me to. I stood three times for a total of 14 minutes.
As I was standing, I asked Phil how he would feel when I’m walking. He didn’t look at me but asked what I thought and told me to guess. I told him that I didn’t want to guess rather I wanted to know. He told me that he would be happy. He’d be proud. He’d be ecstatic. I didn’t know if he was serious or just patronizing me. I kept asking as he put me in my car. This time as he put me in, my feet remained on the ground and I think I helped a bit. Phil said it was easy as he guided me onto the driver’s seat. Phil’s “bends” returned with a vengeance and I REALLY liked this variation. They made me laugh.
I drove home wondering if Phil will REALLY be proud of me when I’m walking. When that day comes (WHENEVER that day comes), I don’t know that it will matter if he is sincere or patronizing because I will be proud of ME enough for the both of us.
Total time in Stander = 86 minutes