I am feeling all rather joyous because this knee surgery has been an unqualified success. But then along came the expression: “Knock on Wood” Well, of course, I HAD to look it up and this is wha I found.
“This phrase is used by people who rap their knuckles on a piece of wood hoping to stave off bad luck. In the UK, the phrase ‘touch wood’ is used – often jokingly by tapping one’s head. The phrases are sometimes spoken when a person is already experiencing some good fortune and hope that it will continue – for example “I’ve been winning on every race – touch wood”.
Goodness knows I want this good fortune to continue. But to continue with the phrase: The derivation may be the association that wood and trees have with good spirits in mythology, or with the Christian cross. It used to be considered good luck to tap trees to let the wood spirits within know you were there. Traditions of this sort still persist in Ireland. See also – the darling buds of May.The British version of the phrase – ‘touch wood’, pre-dates the American ‘knock on wood’ and was itself preceded by a Latin version – ‘absit omen’, meaning ‘far be that omen from us’. This dates from at least the early 17th century, when it is quoted by John Heywood in his collections of proverbs. It isn’t clear when ‘touch wood’ began to be used as a token of good fortune but it must have been by 1850” .
I would offhand say that we have exhausted knock on wood thoroughly. But now, what is offhand? As an adverb it is without preparation, on the spur of the moment, without consideration, without checking, extempore, impromptu, ad lib; extemporaneously, without rehearsal, spontaneously; Latin ad libitum; informal off the cuff, off the top of one’s head, just like that, at the drop of a hat.
On the spur of the moment, how I do love that one. But to get back to the knee surgery success and the indicia of same. The physical therapist cane yesterday and told me that I was “exceptional” , doing all of my exercises and asking for more. Moreover, a call was made to my surgeon to authorize another visit with Debbie, the physical therapist. I was thinking at some point to terminate the home physical therapy and go back to Presidio Sport for physical therapy but I changed my mind, deciding that home would be better with less hassle getting there and back. My future physical therapy will be there at Presidio Sport, the plan will then going the Presidio YMCA doing water aerobics which is the best exercise in the entire universe, as far as I am concerned. I have had these plans for the future – everything has been in limbo waiting for the knee replacement surgery. But I have had it and getting better almost instantly.
What is limbo? Let us look it up. An abode of souls that are according to Roman Catholic theology barred from heaven because of not having received Christian baptism
a place or state of restraint or confinement
trapping travelers in an airless limbo
b: a place or state of neglect or oblivi
c: an intermediate or transitional place or state The adolescent occupies a special human limb
d: a state of uncertainty
The graduate was in limbo for a while, trying to decide what to do next. .
Given any of those definitions it was not an easy place to be – be it uncertainty, neglect or oblivion, restraint or confinement.
My activity is still limited but I have gifted myself with a care giver. She comes daily from 10 to 6 and she gives me care – as she says:
She: That is my job. Me: But you do it so well, it comes naturally to you. It is amazing.
Another person was my care giver, provided by the same agency. . The difference was striking, The other person made me laugh and we joked around but there was not this same quality of care. The favoured one is reliable, careful, honest, has an aura of calm and is actually making me more patient. That has to be a miracle in and of itself as I am the world’s most impatient person.
I shall end with a definition of patience and include a picture of me, shown on Instagram to illustrate how well I am doing. So far I have 35 likes and some great comments.
They: You look fabulous
They: You look marvellous darling
They: Gorgeous
They: Wow! Look at you.
And this one:
She: Hey, sexy.
Me: Thanks! I am actually feeling sexy.
Patience: Forbearance, tolerance, restraint, self-restraint, resignation, stoicism, fortitude, sufferance, endurance; calmness, composure, even temper, even-temperedness, equanimity, equilibrium, serenity, tranquillity, imperturbability, unexcitability, understanding, indulgence, lenience, kindness, consideration;
But the definition of the word says it more eloquently: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. Examples: You can find bargains if you have the patience to sift through the rubbish and then: I have run out of patience with her.
