To answer my own question, no, it doesn't.
Which is why I think I'll write a post about some of the fun things I've been able to do while wearing a frame. To add to the challenge factor, these things are going to be relatively recent occurrences, within the last month or so. And, yes, there will be pictures.
But first and foremost, the most exciting event of my past month is probably Jurassic Park 3D. I am massively fond of all things dinosaur. Recently, I turned a Top Gear-happy brother to more quality BBC fare like Walking with Dinosaurs and its sequel series Walking with Beasts, both of which are on Netflix and both of which are completely worth checking out—for those who haven't seen them (and if you haven't, you've been sorely deprived), think classic nature documentary, except about prehistoric animals. It's a brilliant concept. Also, in order to cheer myself up after a rather long and depressing year of doing College Board-ordained biology as part of my AP Biology course, I have taken to including dinosaur references on everything I turn in for that class. Lucky for me, the teacher doesn't seem to mind at all. Actually, she seems to enjoy the touch.
So, getting myself back on track, not only can you enjoy Netflix and dinosaurs while stuck with the frame, but you can go to movies. And not only can you go to movies, but you can go to movies in IMAX—not the digital variety, but the real IMAX, projected on film (look it up). About a week and a half ago, I managed to persuade my family to go to Jurassic Park in a real IMAX theater in 3D. It was incredible. By far the most intense screening of Jurassic Park I've ever experienced. The sound system did a marvelous job playing the John Williams score, the dinosaurs were enormous, the T. rex attacking the Jeep sequence was breathtaking…
It was the kind of thing that helps you forget that you have a large metal frame on your leg.
Additionally in the past couple weeks, as stated a couple times in the previous two posts, I returned to Virginia. While in Virginia, I got to drive up in the mountains. For those wondering, no, I did not take the wheel (I am, as of now, unlicensed and not allowed to learn until the frame comes off). But I did get to see mountains.
I am immensely fond of mountains.
All I can say is that mountains possess a certain majesty which I find remarkable. And I can tell you that I was raised surrounded by mountains, and that they are peaceful and when I am in the mountains I am content and happy and at easy.
In short, I like mountains a whole ton better than I like metal leg frames.
Now, the city of Charlottesville is fifteen, twenty minutes from the mountains (I think). Yes, that is my transition into the next part of my upbeat post.
First off, I got to see old friends while in Charlottesville. There were definitely a few moments where I had to stop myself from running with this thing on. No matter how confident I may feel that, if the frame can put up with the abuse I deal it by walking on the leg, it won't be hurt by a few attempted running steps, my mother would not agree and the last thing I want to do is to get into a frame-related disagreement with my mother, mostly because she'd win. And that was wonderful, too.
Not all was warm and cheery in Charlottesville. While I was down there escaping from the yet-to-cease Minnesota winter (it snowed again…today), there was a storm which dumped five inches of snow on the area. Feeling cautious, I scaled the day at the University of Virginia back a little bit. Instead of doing activities beyond the dorm tour, I just did the dorm tour.
The tour involved walking more or less from one end of grounds to another. This was, up until then, by far the longest distance I had attempted on the frame.
The frame held up just fine.
I will confess, I was feeling a bit apprehensive about the size of the place, an if I go here I'll actually need to walk that far?!? incredulousness. Later on, I realized that I wouldn't actually be going to college with a frame on my leg.
And (a couple steps later) my college process, a process which kicked into high gear as I was psyching myself up for the horribly painful ordeal of the Taylor Spatial Frame, ended as I began anticipating the removal of the frame.
I'm headed back to Charlottesville in the fall, no frame in tow, ready to begin anew.
In short, there are a solid number of dark days in the world of one who has taken on the Taylor Spatial Frame (or an external fixator), days which seem never-ending and dull and pointless. But while the frame can and does interfere with your ability to walk, move and go through doorways unimpeded, there are some days where the frame becomes rather secondary.
Such as days when you watch Jurassic Park in IMAX.
If you asked me why, exactly, I don't think I could articulate it very well at all.
In short, I like mountains a whole ton better than I like metal leg frames.
Now, the city of Charlottesville is fifteen, twenty minutes from the mountains (I think). Yes, that is my transition into the next part of my upbeat post.
First off, I got to see old friends while in Charlottesville. There were definitely a few moments where I had to stop myself from running with this thing on. No matter how confident I may feel that, if the frame can put up with the abuse I deal it by walking on the leg, it won't be hurt by a few attempted running steps, my mother would not agree and the last thing I want to do is to get into a frame-related disagreement with my mother, mostly because she'd win. And that was wonderful, too.
Not all was warm and cheery in Charlottesville. While I was down there escaping from the yet-to-cease Minnesota winter (it snowed again…today), there was a storm which dumped five inches of snow on the area. Feeling cautious, I scaled the day at the University of Virginia back a little bit. Instead of doing activities beyond the dorm tour, I just did the dorm tour.
The tour involved walking more or less from one end of grounds to another. This was, up until then, by far the longest distance I had attempted on the frame.
The frame held up just fine.
I will confess, I was feeling a bit apprehensive about the size of the place, an if I go here I'll actually need to walk that far?!? incredulousness. Later on, I realized that I wouldn't actually be going to college with a frame on my leg.
And (a couple steps later) my college process, a process which kicked into high gear as I was psyching myself up for the horribly painful ordeal of the Taylor Spatial Frame, ended as I began anticipating the removal of the frame.
I'm headed back to Charlottesville in the fall, no frame in tow, ready to begin anew.
In short, there are a solid number of dark days in the world of one who has taken on the Taylor Spatial Frame (or an external fixator), days which seem never-ending and dull and pointless. But while the frame can and does interfere with your ability to walk, move and go through doorways unimpeded, there are some days where the frame becomes rather secondary.
Such as days when you watch Jurassic Park in IMAX.
No comments:
Post a Comment