7-Quick Takes

1.

The 7-Quick Takes are no more, but I really enjoy that format and I’ve done them for years. So I’m taking a crack at hosting them here. We’ll see what happens.

2.

Our diocese has a very rich Latin Mass following. Last month the priests that offer the Tridentine Mass were summoned to Cleveland. They are supposed to take a census during December and try to figure out how many people are really attending these masses. Eventually, the goal is to have three such masses spread throughout the diocese instead of the rich sprinkling of them that we have now.

The last Latin mass I attended was a wedding that I helped coordinate just a few years ago. I remember going as a very little girl. My coming of age was Novus Ordo and I am very comfortable with that. BUT … I really hate that they are mandating the removal of a liturgy that is centuries old if that’s how some people want to worship. I think it would be better if they could find a way to conciliate with both sides.

And I really see this as a slap in the face to Pope Benedict, since he started to bring the old rite back. This is just another reason that his resignation as pope was just a really bad idea.

3.

Back in September, just before I walked down the aisle at my son’s wedding, I remember thinking how lucky I was that I had two healthy, well-working, and pain-free legs. I was even wearing shoes with a heel!

The wedding reception was held outdoors and the portable dance floor was on a slight incline. I had a great time dancing with my family and sending Miss C. repeatedly to the DJ with song requests.

By the end of the evening, I had effectively shredded my right knee joint.

4.

My knee was sore and tender for the next two months. It never did seem to exactly get any better, but I was doing my normal activities, just slowly and with a lot of discomfort.

One month after the wedding, I finally saw my sports medicine doctor who diagnosed hamstring strain and gave me some exercises. I did them.

They didn’t really help.

Still, I was managing to work out on my elliptical and even do a little hiking with my kids.

One month after that, I was walking alone back to my car while Miss C. and Rosie were hiking with the home schoolers. My knee felt funny so I just thought I shouldn’t push it. I just made it to the top of this gentle hill when

BAM!!!

I felt as if I had been shot in the back of my knee! The pain and sensation sent me forward, and I fell face down on the path. Stunned.

5.

Of course, I thought I could just walk it off. That’s when I discovered that I could not put any weight on that leg without experiencing excruciating pain. It was another half hour before the girls found me. 30 more minutes to get to the car with their help. The diagnosis? Torn medial meniscus oblique root tear. The worst.

6.

The next month is a journey through the health care system. Urgent care gave me prednisone that took the swelling and inflammation way down. My regular doctor ordered an MRI. After a week I had insurance approval. But I couldn’t get in to get the MRI until December 13. In the meantime, I got one shot on one side of my knee while waiting to get the MRI done.

The results of that sent me to the surgeon who seemed very reluctant to do any kind of surgery. As of this writing, I have had two physical therapy sessions. Fingers crossed that that’s all I’ll need.

7.

My newest project in 2022 – Mr. Pete and I are going to do The Bible in a Year podcast with Father Mike Schmitz. We’re going to make the time to do this as a couple and let the kids join in as their able. The only rule we have is that even if we are too busy to do it together, we’ll make time to listen on our own and report back.

This should be fun.