Convalescent Note:
May I?
12 February 2019

¶ Because of the snow, Kathleen worked at home today. She had brought her computer from the office in anticipation.

Throughout the day, but sparingly, I interrupted her, to play a game of Elementary School. If I wanted to go somewhere or to do something, I asked Kathleen’s permission.

— May I go into the book room and sit at the computer for a while?

— May I go into the kitchen to make a sandwich?

— Do you think it would be a good idea if I put on those new shoes? (The podiatrist had said that I ought to wear shoes — a simple-seeming instruction that was problematic at best, given my collection of old shoes that never really fit to begin with and new shoes that haven’t been broken in yet because I’m supposed to stay off my feet.)

Kathleen invariably approved my requests, probably because they were carefully considered, and, also, not very frequent. I did not ask anything like 

— Would it be okay to vacuum the rug in the foyer? 

— Do you think I could bake a cake? 

I asked because I really wanted her opinion. If I went to sit at the computer, or to make a sandwich, would that be too great a breach of the rule about staying off my feet? It is a difficult rule to apply — unless, of course, it comes with a wheelchair, or a pair of crutches at least.

Naturally, I had to be on my feet to make today’s appointment with the Infectious Disease specialists, whom, like the podiatrist, I had not seen since my stay in the hospital. Tomorrow, I will have to get to the dermatologist’s office somehow. How do you get to a taxi, if not on your feet? 

I am looking forward to Thursday, when I won’t have to go anywhere. 

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