Hip Replacement Missionary?

I just had a very strange experience. I was walking through a parking lot from the bank to my car, and a woman in her mid-thirties stopped me to ask me a question.

"Excuse me, but do you mind if I ask you a question about your gait?"

The only people who use the word "gait" on a regular basis are physical therapists, orthopedic doctors, and horseback riders. Everyone else just asks about my limp or the way I walk. This seemed intriguing.

"Sure."
"Did you have a hip replacement?"
"No..."
"Do you have hip dysplasia?"
"Yes..." (thinking: how does she know that?!)
"I used to have a gait just like yours. I had hip dysplasia and congenital [something I haven't heard of before and don't remember], and I got a hip replacement. It was the best decision I ever made."

She goes on for a bit about how self-conscious she had been of her limp (only hers was "100 times worse" than mine), back pain, etc. I mention that I'm avoiding having anymore surgery. She knows all about how that goes, but encourages me anyway. This is sounding more and more like someone trying to sell me something. Apparently a place called the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is the spot to get a hip replacement done.

She eventually finishes. "Don't wait too long like I did!" We part ways.

She was so convinced that her solution was the best solution that I actually didn't get a chance to tell her that I'm not self-conscious about my walk, I'm rarely in pain, and I have a relatively healthy hip socket, despite my gait, and that I've found other ways to help myself get through life without another surgery. She only seemed interested in selling me a Mayo Clinic hip replacement surgery, and probably wouldn't really have listened if I had told her all of that. I'm very glad she's happy, but, well... Thanks but no thanks.

Life and Bikes

I'm posting for the first time from my new apartment! In case you missed it, I'm moving from Lower Queen Anne to West Green Lake. I still only have a few things in the new place, but it's enough that I can sleep here and spend some time here without having to sit on the floor. I'll be completely moved in within the next couple of weeks.

I think living by Green Lake is going to be really good for me. My apartment is a block and a half from the lake, so I have NO excuse about not going for walks there. I took my first walk today (somehow I'd never taken a walk around the lake before - stupid me), and it's BEAUTIFUL. Maybe that's just because today is also a sunny, lovely spring day, but no, I think Green Lake is just inherently beautiful. I'm so excited to be living here.

Living by the lake is also physically inspiring for me. It's really fun watching all the bikers, roller skaters, scooterers, runners, and walkers, and it makes me want to join them. A few days ago my mom told me that she had a dream about watching me ride a bike with my hair blowing behind me in the wind (I think I had longer hair in the dream). Watching the bikers at Green Lake after hearing about that dream makes me want to bike again.

The last time I rode a bike was late in high school in an attempt to learn how to ride again after my 5th grade surgery and recovery. I never got the hang of it again. The phrase "Once you know how to ride a bike you'll never forget" does not ring true for me. I was always terrified of falling, and did fall hard a few times. It still scares me when I think about it. On the other hand, the image from Mom's dream is a very tempting one. I remember biking when I was little and loving it. Juggling the two reactions is really confusing. Probably the hardest part aside from dealing with the fear of falling is the embarrassment of not being able to ride a bike. Everyone I know bikes. If I were to learn again, I'd have no idea where to start...