May 5th 2015
To say that this year has been busy for us is quite an understatement. Two years ago I started to have chronic pain in my hips. Physical therapy helped but I found myself limiting my activities more and more. After realizing that I could no longer take a walk on the beach with the Field clan or a hike in the Metro Parks with the Warm clan, I decided to throw in the towel and in January I had my right hip operated on for femoral acetabular impingement. The surgeon reshaped the femoral head and reconstructed my labrum (tissue lining the inside of the hip socket). The operation required four weeks on crutches and six months of rehab. Then I went back a week and a half ago to have my other hip repaired. And if you are doing the math, yes that is less than six months. Both operations went well and I am trying to be a patient patient during the healing and rehab phases. Emily has been fantastic helping me through these surgeries, as have been Jeremiah and Anna.
Meanwhile, during the drama around my surgeries, Anna was college searching. Emily took her out to Ohio for a long weekend to see Kenyon, Wooster and Case Western. Then Anna flew out on her own to Saint Paul to see Macalester. I squeeze in a trip with her to LA for a visit to Occidental and then Emily flew out with her to see Grinnell in Iowa. All of the schools were great and it was a tough decision for Anna. It came down to the wire, and she chose Grinnell. Emily and I think it will be a great fit for her both academically and socially. She will be out there in time for the Iowa Caucuses.
Jay spent the winter studying in Montreal. Despite the cold winds he had a wonderful experience and many fond memories. He is home for the summer and working at a local sandwich shop. He will return for his senior year at Champlain where he will develop his final video game project. In fact, his team is already hard at work.
And, during this time Emily and I managed to strip out some stained and worn out carpet and nail in a hardwood floor as a DIY project in a bedroom. I also was able to complete a dining room table using local beetle killed wood which I had been working on and off (mostly off) for the past two years.
Then one week after my second surgery, Anna graduated from Fairview High School!! We went to the school awards ceremony, the technical theater banquet where Anna won Senior Techie of the Year, of course the graduation ceremony and then a party at our house. It was all very exciting and fun, but somewhat bitter sweet for Emily and I. In a few months Emily and I will be without our children for the first time in 21 years.
Fairview Class of 2015
Proud Parents
Techies of the Year
Dining Table Finished
The Carpenter