Bullet to the Knee

     Had my knee been the victim of violence, or accidental injury, I would have absolutely no compunctions about surgery.  But I'm sitting at the computer this morning for an hour or so now, and my knee is as problem-free as it could possibly be, with not an ache or a twinge of any kind.  I'm no more aware of it than of my left collar bone or my right elbow.  I have to remind myself of yesterday when I was planting a few seeds and it was so painful to walk across the yard, especially so on uneven ground.  I conjure up the sight of the x-rays showing the lack of cartilage and the presence of nasty-looking bone spurs.  I could stand in front of the hall mirror and see how my right leg is way out of alignment.  I'm down with it--slice off the old crappy parts and put a nice smooth substance in there instead. 
    Sounds simple, but it's the "elective" part that keeps me from rejoicing.   I  recall the time right after my first cataract surgery:  I came home with a patch over the operated eye, which was to be left on for 4 hours.  I lay down, fell asleep still kind of woozy from the sedation.  I woke up, looked at the clock, and it was still a little under the 4 hours, but I was anxious to check my sight, so I carefully peeled the bandage back, opened my eye, and could see--------nothing!  I was instantly struck with an intense shock of remorse.  What had I allowed to happen to myself?  Why hadn't I left well enough alone!  I wanted to go back and undo my decision to have surgery.  I stuck the eyepatch back on and grieved for my stupid mistake.  When the 4-hour window arrived, for real this time, I removed the patch, blinked a few times, and Hallelujah, I could see!  When I kept my F.U. visit the next day, the doctor said I tested the best she had ever seen at that point post surgery.  So it was anticipation, regret, ultimately satisfaction.  I'm hoping for the same.   (Of course, cat surgery is painless, and the only rehab is inserting drops in your eye.)