Lend me your ears

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

Chekhov once said if a writer reveals a gun in chapter one, he’s got to fire it by chapter three. Last week, I wrote about my fears about having hand surgery. I survived it. In some ways, my worst fears were both realized and baseless.

My friends turned out in shifts, giving me rides to and from the surgery, keeping an eye on me while I slept, cooking me food, watching Six Feet Under with me when I woke up that evening. One left me pot in case the pain pills made me nauseous—they didn’t, but something might tomorrow. One actually did my dishes while I slept. Another talked to me long into the night.

I’m wearing a half cast as I type this. Surgery was painful, but nothing a double-dose of OxyContin wouldn’t handle. But I hate not knowing what’s going on in my head, so I mostly quit taking it on Friday. I even hit the elliptical on Friday, after delivering my old turntable to a needy acquaintance and getting my piercings replaced.

So on my right hand, if I tilt the keyboard just right, I can type with my thumb, index and middle fingers, which is only one fewer fingers than before the surgery. I did just realize I have no way of taking notes for Filet of Soul today. That’ll probably end up my lede. (Sorry, Kat.)

Tomorrow, Monday, is my first physical therapy session. I can’t wait to see my hand without wrapping. I peeked under the bandages, and my palm looked like a roadmap of stitches. Kind of cool, kind of gnarly. I’m a bit nervous because I know the therapy’s primary purpose is to make my finger extend straight. And I know how much that hurt before my hand was shredded.

But, you know, I’m really past the worst of it. I’ll be surprised if I see any of my friends tomorrow, but I’ll be grateful if I do. This kind of growth is painful, but then most growth, too quick, is painful. I’d be crazy to say I’m afraid of positive change just because it hurts.

Since I began with a paraphrase, I’ll end with a quote: “I get by with a little help from my friends.” And I don’t mean the Percocet.