No, not that Babe….besides, he’s been long gone. No more plate appearances for him.
Before we go any further, allow me to explain that “The Babe” is a term of endearment (never before aired to the public) that some years back Debbi approved of allowing me to use. No, not in the sense of …”Babe, while you’re up would you get me a beer?”..
No, it was born out of watching the occasional round of the PGA on the tube and someone would yell out (as soon as the metal face of the club made it’s resounding thwack upon contact with the ball)…”You Da Maaaaan! So, what started out as somewhat of a joke, turned into one of those ongoing, although in our case not overused, pet names couples sometimes have for one another. Debbi was certainly not “Da Man”, she was and is quite simply “The Babe”. In our household, it is considered an honorific. She has one for me as well. But, perhaps that might come later.
The title was certainly earned after almost 42 years of marriage. She is one of the sweetest, kindest, toughest, grittiest people I know all wrapped up in 4 foot 10 inch bundle of energy that up until last Monday was operating on two knees that were long overdue as to being replaced. She refused to do it before now because of her commitment to watching the Grandkids three days a week. She did not want to see them have to go into daycare as good as some of them are. But, like much of what people endure, other things started going awry due to compensating for the manner in which she had to walk and move about.
Moving forward, we are now 8 days this side of what is considered a “Simultaneous” Bi-Lateral Total Knee Replacement or BTKR, and it looks as if Debbi will be heading home from re-hab tomorrow. She was ready for this in so many ways. We were advised that the surgery would take upwards of 4 hours to complete. And when Dr. Welker shared with me 2 hours and 15 minutes later that all went very well, it was clear he was very happy with the results. He also mentioned that she would probably add back at least a couple inches of height due to the success of what was accomplished.
Just a side note to all of what has happened. We chose her surgeon because of two good friends who previously needed his orthopedic surgical skills. Neither of which would be as mobile as they are today had it not been for those skills and gifts. Tell me referrals don’t mean anything.
Lastly, the Kettering Health System here in SW Ohio is topnotch. They are aligned with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. And, in all that they do, they honor God.
Enough for now, “The Babe” will be home tomorrow…I need to fold the laundry.
Steven