Babies are born without kneecaps.  They don’t appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

This puts in perspective the fact that my knees grumble at their overuse. They’ve been performing repetitive tasks for almost 70 Years, absent in my preschool years.

• going back and forth between sit and stand
• bending properly to go up and down stairs
• Kicking a ball or another’s ass, which may be as metaphorical as kicking a can
• climbing a ladder or banding to lace a  tennis shoe
• walking, running, dancing, and jumping, though I seldom do the last one now

My knees are begging for replacement, the orthopedist says.

I’m putting the procedure off because I’m not a fan of surgery. Instead, I’ve accepted cortisone and PRP (plasma replacement procedure) shots. I have all manner of knee braces and compression bands. Some even have copper in them! I have KT tape and Rock tape and know how to tape my knees like a pro.. I’ve attended hundreds of physical therapy sessions – and follow through with all of the techniques and exercises at home.

I am my longtime PT’s favorite patient – because I comply.

Acupuncture and laser light therapy are a part of my preventative regimen. I have CBD massage oil, Ice and Heat packs, and nightly doses of Advil. I also have longterm relationships with Voltaren, Arnica, and Biofreeze. I have my own TENS unit and apply the electrode just like my PT did.

It ain’t the money, honey, because the total spent on my homeopathic remedies is thousands while the surgical procedure would be free via terrific insurance.

Perhaps, in the end, deferring knee surgery is a denial of my old age. Like all Boomers, I want to be Peter Pan and be light on my feet and fly, a social butterfly forever.