Almost nine years ago, Marty and I went on our first date.  We went to an outdoor concert at the Minnesota Zoo which is a fantastic place to hear a band.  The band on our first date - The Tragically Hip.  Just thinking of that this morning really made me laugh - isn't that the most fantastic foreshadowing ever?  If I were in a John Irving novel, that bit from our early dating would be coming back full circle now, just after Marty's hip replacement.  Except if it were a John Irving novel, it would have been replaced with something like the hip bone from the first girl he ever kissed.  And unless that girl's name is Stainless Steele, it didn't happen.

He's doing well, such great improvements in the past day.  He's up, walking (with a walker or crutches), showered, dressed, alert.  He got his old groove back - the one where he is constantly organizing, futzing with things, and making nice neat piles.  So, he's back.

I spent some time yesterday running around trying to find some of the things that we'll need once we get back home.  Treasures that brought out my best junior high self - raised toilet seats, grippers for putting on socks, walkers.  I've spent so much time at Walgreen's over the past few days that I almost bought myself some Jean Nate.

If all goes well, we'll be leaving today and heading home.  Once there, we have some set up to do and a bit more shopping to outfit ourselves with all the home care things we need.  The kids will be thrilled to see us - I know we've all missed each other.  We'll spend the next few weeks healing, having fun, preparing for Christmas.  And if I'm really good and patient through all of this, maybe I'll find a little Jean Nate in my Christmas stocking.