People never cease to amaze me, and not always in a positive way.  For the last three years, as my osteoarthritis has continued to progress (still can’t figure out why that’s called progress), I’ve gotten rather behind in some of the projects around my house.  Not being able to walk, bend, or balance well after a couple of total hip replacements and three additional surgeries on my foot and ankle—compliments of OA—five major orthopedic surgeries in three years just seemed to interrupt my “schedules!” 

My philosophy has always been, since I started my small custom landscaping company, that my own yard should be at least quasi-presentable.  I tell people if I were going to hire someone to do my own landscape, I would take a peek at their yard.  If it truly looked horrible, why would I want to hire them!  A couple of weeks ago, I declared my yard an overgrown mess and vowed to cure the problem.  On days when osteoarthritis isn’t rearing its ugly painful head as much, I’ve been sawing and chopping in an attempt to return my backyard jungle to a photo-op for Better Homes and Garden (actually, I’d settle for just making it more manageable!).  

Yesterday, a neighbor came by and silently WATCHED me at work.  He finally commented that when I was finished with my yard, I could come over and do the same for his.  He even offered to “let me” put the bags of his lawn waste out in front of his house when I had everything cleaned up and bundled.  Gosh—such an opportunity!  With anyone else, I would have laughed, knowing they were joking.  NOT SO with this guy—he really expected me to come do his work for him, and obviously he didn’t offer any $$$ or offer to help me!  He’s really lucky I’m such a nice person, because I had my chainsaw in my hand when this opportunity came up—so I politely laughed, and kept working!

I will do almost anything for anyone at any time, but can’t seem to always get it through my thick head that many others don’t feel the same, obviously!

I’m back on the road to my adventure traveling next week.  I’ll be flying to Northern Ontario for a backwoods canoe adventure—the first time I’ve tried canoeing since I became a “robot.”  I’ll be traveling with an adventure company who encourages healthy people with physical challenges to keep exploring.  I also went with them a couple of years ago to canoe through the Florida Everglades, learned to drive a dogsled in Ontario (in the winter of course), and I will also be working with them on a backcountry trip in Yellowstone in August!

I’ve had many people ask HOW I come up with these adventures, and WHERE I find them.  The reality, is, although I tend to be a workaholic, I’m also, very much, a people person!  I take the time to talk (and listen) to people—I love adventure, and am more willing to try new things as I get older and more physically challenged.