Good morning! I'm writing to you from a chilly 38* F in North Carolina. (I live in the eastern half of the state.)

I got a package that I'm pretty excited about during Black Friday weekend. It's a rollator. If you aren't familiar with it, it is a wheeled walker with brakes and a seat. Yes, it looks kind of old ladyish.

But it means that I can actually do some of my Christmas shopping in person this year. It's been two years since I have been able to do such a thing, and I'm really looking forward to it.

I got this one as a temporary piece of equipment. It wasn't terribly expensive but that means it's heavier yet less sturdy. If I like it and all goes well, I'll be saving up for a much better quality, ultra-lightweight one.

Getting my head around the need for a mobility aid in the long term has been difficult. I know that people much younger than me need help getting around, and it isn't something shameful. I'm sure that the first few times I go out with it, I'll feel self-conscious. But, rationally, I know it's really more likely that nobody is staring at or judging me.

I'm hoping that the stability offered by this device will make it easier for me to get out and take short walks, go to the store myself instead of ordering in, and maybe even go out to lunch with my daughter. It also helps that there's a seat because my ankle will absolutely not tolerate me standing in line. Not only does it hurt like a #$%*& after a few minutes, but it also locks up, and then when I try to take a step, it's not always super successful and graceful. However, if I can sit in line instead, I think it'll go okay.

My daughter and her friend (who is an engineer) are coming over today to help me assemble all ten million parts that go to this thing, and I'm ordering gratitude pizza for their help. I'm terrible at putting things together! With that, I need to go sweep and tidy up.

I'm wishing you a wonderful week.

Love,
Daisy

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