Geometry

H minus 104 

Just a few weeks ago I started walking with a cane. The way it happened:

Pam and I visited California in September. I had a three-day summit at work in Sunnyvale, and Pam came along. Then for the weekend, we went to Half Moon Bay and stayed at a bed and breakfast on the beach. We had a really nice time!

Walking around with Pam in the evenings during the summit, Pam noticed how much I was struggling with my hip. I've always had a quick walking pace, and when I'm not thinking about it, tend to accelerate ahead of other people with me. Yet lately, I've been lagging behind Pam. It took real effort to keep up, and apparently I was not particularly quiet about it. 

When we got to Half Moon Bay, we stopped at the CVS, and I was told in no uncertain terms to pick out a cane (Note: you need someone like Pam in your life to love you, support you, and above all keep you honest).

I spent the weekend adjusting to walking with a cane. 

Did I say "adjusting"? I took to it like a fish to chips, like a snake to politics. It was an immediate game changer! 

The next afternoon Philip and Linnea and her boyfriend, Zach all met us in downtown Half Moon Bay. We headed over to the SummerFest free concert and watched a Latin Funk band, La Gente SF. It was music you cannot keep still to. I danced. By dancing I mean I stood there wobbling like a poorly coordinated person with a dubious sense of rhythm (my usual MO at concerts), but this time, I could do it tripedally. I stomped my cane to the beat as I bounced side to side. I may have looked ridiculous, but I had fun! Luckily, I believe no video exists.

I quickly learned to hold the cane backwards, with the curve towards the back and my hand slightly towards the end of the grip. That places my weight just ahead of the center of the cane, so that when I push down, it rocks forward, propelling me along. Just a few extra ounces of weight on my hand and the leverage adds just that little bit more forward propulsion to my step. I speed up just enough that now I can effortlessly keep up with Pam. Walking, that is. In other ways I still need all the help I can get. 





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