Turning the Corner

It’s been four weeks since my surgery, and I think I’ve turned a corner. In my previous surgeries, there was always a morning when I woke up and said, “Self. ” (I knew it was me because I spoke in my voice and was wearing my underwear.) “You definitely feel better this morning!”

Maybe it’s because I’m getting old, but I haven’t had that moment yet. Today, I was able to go for a walk of nearly a mile without feeling wiped out. I’ve also started cooking again. Robin has been doing everything, including the cooking. I took that back over on Monday. I was a bit gassed afterward. Today, I cooked the meal and have been feeling fine. A definite improvement!

I had to reschedule my surgical follow-up appointment from April 22 to April 28. That’s another week, and I won’t be cleared to drive or lift any other restrictions. I have been pushing the limits around the house and yard, some of which I have not shared with Robin. She reads this, so the cat will be out of the bag. Repercussions will be forthwith, I’m sure.

I also feel better since Manchester United blew a two-goal lead in the Europa League quarterfinals against Lyon. They went into extra time tied 2-2. They played two fifteen-minute overtime halves. If they were tied at the end of the two halves, there would be a penalty kick shootout.

Lyon had a player who got a second yellow card, which is a red card, so he was removed from the game. Lyon was now playing with ten men, which didn’t seem to matter as Lyon scored twice in the first fifteen minutes. The second goal came as my oldest grandson, Roman, walked right in front of me to show me something. Let’s just say walking in front of PeePaw during a goal being scored is a violation of the Prime Directive. Do NOT interfere with PeePaw’s Manchester United soccer match! I barked at him and went back to my room to take off my Man U shirt, scarf, and hat. I’ll admit I was a bit disheartened.

I came back out as they started the second overtime period. A few minutes in, Man U was awarded a penalty kick, and the Captain, Bruno Fernandes, scored it to make the game 3-4. Well, now I was interested again! A few minutes later, Kobbie Mainoo, 19 years old, scored on a spectacular strike to tie the match. Now I’m intensely interested! There were a couple of minutes left in the match, plus stoppage time, and I didn’t want to go to penalty kicks.

Ruben Amorim, Man U’s manager, threw Harry Maguire up front to try to make things happen. Harry is a center back, a back-line defender. He’s tall and has the moniker “slab head” due to his ability to head the ball. Ruben decided to roll the dice and put Slab Head up front. Pure genius.

The game went into five minutes of stoppage time, time that is added for injuries, goal scores, etc. In the first minute of stoppage time, a ball was lofted into the penalty box, on the far post of the goal. Harry, living up to his moniker, got behind a defender and put that sweet, glorious, slab head on the ball and scored the winning goal! Man U won 5-4. Harry became the first ever player to score in extra time stoppage time in Europa League history!

Manchester United will play Athletic Bilbao in the semifinals in the first week of May. Tottenham Hotspur, another English team, will play Bodo/Glimt, a Norwegian team, in the other semi-final. If Man U can win the Europa League, they will play in the UEFA Champions League next season.

Hope springs eternal! It feels good to have the energy to enjoy it again!