Driving topless on a crisp fall afternoon with the wind in my hair and the blasting heat at my feet, I’m struck by how something so simple can make me smile so wide. Is it the sun peering behind a puffy cloud warming the autumn air? Maybe.
Or the purr of this nearly 60-year-old vehicle being driven by a 60-plus woman with nothing but time on her hands out on the open road? OK, it’s Adams Road in Rochester. More suburban and hilly than open, I ‘spose.
Could be.
Or the fact that the convertible top is dropped (not mine!) and this classic 1965 Ford has hit her stride — and no one can stop me. Mostly because I’m going 45 mph in a 50-mph zone, which is pretty darn good for my 6-cylinder/170-cc Mustang Sal.
She’s not fast, but she’s so pretty. (That one was for Leslie.)
I was headed to meet my old friend Rachelle for lunch at Bravo in Rochester Hills to catch up and celebrate her birthday, which was in … August. (Yeah, well, sometimes life gets in the way of living.)
My mind wanders back to when I used to make this same drive five days a week commuting to college at Oakland University. It was 1978. A long time ago when things were simpler. At least they seemed to be. I certainly was.
Guess my alma mater OU has been on my mind lately since I started physical therapy last month for my knees. Yes, knees plural. Old sports injuries, getting older and osteoarthritis have whittled away the cushion of my cartilage, creating bone-on-bone pain.
And it has affected my pickleball game, which I cannot abide.
It hurts all the time, even at night while I’m sleeping, which is weird. I know it could be worse, but the fact is, the old knees aren’t getting better.
After 10 years of babying them, slowing the progression by decreasing inflammation and disguising the increasing pain with knee injections — regular rounds of hyaluronic acid made from rooster combs and now just plain ol’ cortisone — I’m hoping PT and a home exercise program will help strengthen the surrounding muscles in preparation for an eventual bilateral replacement.
The time for temporary fixes to delay the inevitable is over.
I might be a good candidate for a partial (not full) replacement since my pain is solely on the inner part of both knees. We’ll see what “Dr. Kardashian” says. (Not his actual name, but that’s what Rebecca calls him.)
Anyway, a couple of the workers at my PT facility are OU students who hope to become future physical therapists or in other sports medicine-related careers. Two I met recently are just 19 years old. Kwan and Ryan.
Nineteen? Talk about feeling your age. Honestly, they look even younger to me.
They’re smart, talented and so eager to learn. And working part-time while juggling a full load of classes, no less.
These young men are rock stars. Our future leaders of America.
We could use some of that leadership right about now, eh? But I digress.
Every day at the PT office there’s a trivia question on the board behind the front desk. I usually get them wrong or can’t even make a guess. Then it’s time to ask Mr. Googly for the correct answer.
But not last week. The question was this: “When did Disneyland first open to the public?”
Doing my 60-second calf stretches on the angled wooden board, I asked Ryan if he knew the answer. He nodded his handsome man-bun head no and asked if I knew.
“I’m gonna say … 1955,” I offered.
Ever ready with his iPhone, he Googled it.
“Oh, my gosh, you’re right!” he said with an astonished emoji face. “It’s 1955. July 17, 1955, to be exact. How’d you even know that?”
My knees may be shot, young man, but my mind is sharp as a tack. Today anyway.
“Dude, can we just skip to the heat pack and call it day?” I wondered.
He grinned and sat me down at the leg press machine.
“You know what to do, Jen. Two sets of 10. And today we’ll increase the weight.”
This kid definitely has a bright future.
17 Comments
Elyse Rook
You had me at “driving topless?” I thought gals just did that to get out of a ticket. But October brings back those memories of our youth. Peace and Love, Jen.
Jennifer John
Thanks, E. Why did I know that would grab you? haha
Kori Blessing
Get a full replacement! You will have to down the road anyhow. Both mine are done. Love ya, Cuz.
Jennifer John
You’re prolly right. Thanks, cuz.
Julie M Sayers
So who is your doctor and where do you go for PT? Wondered if “Kardashian” could be Knapke. Our whole neighborhood has used him.
Jennifer John
Oddly enough, Knapke did my ankle years ago. No, this Dr. K stands for Mark Karadsheh. Thanks, JS.
Peggy monaghan
Sounds like you’re doing the right progression of “work” for those knees. Hope you are successful and avoid surgery. I ended up with surgery for one. All good!
Jennifer John
Yeah, I think it’s in my future, too. Thanks, PM.
Kathie Grevemeyer
Jennifer,
Had the knee replacement last year after the ritual you are going through. It was amazing not to be in pain and to go down the basement steps like a regular person, not a child with both feet on each stair. My only problem is the other knee which at that time was the good knee is no longer good. I was going to take care of it this year before, as you say, life interferes. I had a new shoulder replaced. Believe me when I tell you the knee was a piece of cake even with rehab compared to the shoulder. Good luck!
Jennifer John
Appreciate the tips, Kathie. Thanks!
Emily Everett
I love having a friend who can start out her column with “Driving topless …”
Glad Sal is hanging in so well. Hope your knees don’t hold the pickleballing against you.
Jennifer John
Em, I just knew you’d get that! Thanks, EE.
Anne Gross
Your posts, no matter what the topic, never fail to put a big smile on my face. Miss you and Reb, and can’t wait to see you in Florida.
Jennifer John
Thanks for reading, AG. And can’t wait to see you, too!
Elaine
Loved this Jen, quite the visual of you tooting around in Mustang Sal on a beautiful crisp autumn day! Hoping you get the knees stronger so you can have the surgery and get relief from the pain. Love and hugs to you and Rebecca!
Jennifer John
Thanks so much, E!
Cheryl Johns
Don’t waste your time with partial knee replacement. When I was in therapy after my right knee replacement, the majority of other patients there had had partial replacements no more than 3 years prior and had to come back for total knee. They may have improved the technique in the years since, but why take the chance. Just have a total.