Day 1477

This picture of Ranger never fails to warm my heart. Before we brought him home, he was with “Stephanie Puppy Mama” and her wonderful family. All the pups in the litter, Lilly included, had an amazing, loving start to life. We are forever grateful!

At 13, Mr. Ranger is not quite as lithe and mobile as he once was. I can commiserate! Just home from a knee procedure (injection), I have to smile at my “knee injury history.” Of course, they want to know if the knee injury/pain is a recent issue. My answer was a negative followed by the Big Three reasons for my plight:

Teaching in the primary grades for 34 years was a delight to my mind, heart and soul…not so much for the knees! If I squatted down beside a student’s desk 100 times a day (probably WAY underestimated), for 170 days a year times 34… well that’s about 578,000! Poor knees!

Rollerblading was my passion for years! Mostly staying upright and becoming quite adept at the sport, stopping was not my forte! When the unexpected occurred (mostly snakes or deer on the path), I would hit the turf at a very excessive speed. My knees or shoulders took the brunt of those gymnastics! Poor knees!

My Goldens have been known to run into the side of my knees at a full run! They are playing with a brother and I am in the way! Knees don’t usually bend in that direction! I have also tripped over a couple of the big boys and my knees took the hit! Poor knees!

My take-away for both Ranger and myself: supreme gratitude that we live in a time when there are medical options to help us! The downside…the doctor told me to take it easy for the next few days! That is agony for me!!!!