Glinda the Good Witch...October 10, 2021

I stare at old photos, drawn to my right leg. Gaze travels to my real-time leg...blink...yup, still gone. Heart cinch. My mind tries to reign it all in, scrambling back to find its way forward.

It soars and lands on Hansel and Gretel...a little girl is learning that if she finds one crumb after another, she arrives somewhere, and somewhere substantial, back home.

So I grab the cold metal bars at the prosthetic clinic. Take a step, Julie...

...it hurts, I wince...

...one step, and another. Woo hoo!...

...I feel like Captain Hook or c3po or RoboCop...

...come in again Tuesday. You will practice more. And, Julie, you will be walking soon...

...how, how, how? I need to know. Someone, somewhere, tell me. Like Alice, how did I drop in this rabbit hole?

Peter and I sit over dinner together. Tears spill. He oh so kindly wishes that I felt better about my steps, this first day...you were a Rock Star, Julie. A Rock Star.

More tears.

Then Glinda the Good Witch pops in, with her pretty dress and crown. Fairy tales collide. I settle in for story time. That golden haired Glinda waves her wand and coos...

...it is an adventure, dear. Do you see? You are on a path. One crumb. One step. Her eyes dart and twinkle. Breathe, you will find your way home. But promise me, do one thing. Today, not tomorrow, but today.

Write a thank you, wash some dishes, call a friend. Breathe. It is an adventure, do you see? ...

...oh yes, I see...a big smile comes.

I can do one thing, I can take one step. Yes, one thing and one step. That little girl giggles from her brand new bike...

...Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, I am riding, look at me. Look at me!

Whee!!!