Feature image via Keely Weiss
Hey there, Dumbledore’s Army. You’ve found your way to our Friday Open Thread, which is normally like a fun family meeting but who knows this week. Because who knows about anything this week, right? I feel like somebody just slapped a giant TBD over all of my plans, my hopes, my emotional state, my safety and my friends’ safety. To be determined. We’ll see. Maybe.
As of this writing, the whole thing still feels very fresh. I’m eating my first real meal of the day and it’s 10:00 PM. I went to a protest, ran into some friends, and felt heartened. But it has been one rough ride. If you are feeling that way too, or that way and more, or any combination, know that I see you here, we all do, and I love you and am going to keep fighting and writing and doing whatever I can to help all of us get and do better.
I want to use this thread to talk about the positive stuff, big or small, that happened to you this week or that you’re excited about. Because life is still churning on and there are good things in this world and that’s what I need to hear from you now. I’ll start, ready? I got new foot braces yesterday! Hooray!
For those of you who have never laid eyes on me in real life, I wear ankle-high braces called AFOs to stabilize my feet. I’ve had some version of them for as long as I’ve worn shoes, though they’ve changed height and look over time. They generally last me about two years. I’d put off getting my most recent pair replaced because I’d had the same orthotist my entire life and he retired at the end of 2015. The prospect of finding someone new intimidated me, so like a responsible adult I just ignored it for a while. When the inside of my right brace wore down to the plastic during Wisconsin A-Camp and I couldn’t do that anymore, I finally called his apprentice for a referral. And surprise: he let me stay on with him! “We’re not just gonna kick you out after 20 years. Make an appointment; it’ll be fine.” It was like we’d traveled back to the days when doctors made house calls. So personal! So kind! Not sure this is actually allowed, but okay!
The best part about continuing to see a pediatric orthotist — besides continuity of care — is the aesthetic choices. They just don’t value whimsical colors and patterns the same way in adult offices. I needed the right combination of foam and velcro to reflect my core values and demonstrate how I’ve grown since ordering my last pair.
Obviously I chose the Party Dino pattern. With rainbow padding.
(Also I’m really glad I stocked up on these now, because yikes. Party dinos, please be kind; you might need to last me until 2020.)
In other news, my girlfriend and I are getting ready to take a trip to the woods next weekend. I thought I was looking forward to it before, but that’s nothing compared to now. I hope you have something similar on your horizon that is lighting you up inside, even just a little bit.
So tell me about it. Name any and all bright spots of this godforsaken week. How have you been taking care of yourselves? Big plans coming up? Major wardrobe acquisitions you want to show off? (I just got a denim jacket that has inner pockets, amazing.) Have a crush on someone new you want to talk about? Are you celebrating Veterans Day? Lay it all out there and bring hope to our world. It’s what you do best.
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