Well, I think A Novel Event is going to be the last event I attend for 2024. All told, it was a pretty successful event. Not as successful as Alpena or Midland, but we sold a fair number of books - well above my minimum expectations.
As for 2025, I may not be attending as many events as I did this year. This isn't really by choice. Some of you may have noticed that I've been limping around, and when I sit down, I usually rest my left leg on something. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with severe hip arthrosis. The long and the short of it is that the cartilage in my hip is disappearing, or something along those lines. The fix is either shots into the hip, or a hip replacement. I think I'm well past anything shots can fix at this point.
My hip has been like this for YEARS now. When l kneel, the knee on the leg shoots out sideways as opposed to straight ahead. This is because of how the leg sits in the hip socket. I used to be able to walk for miles without an issue. Now? I care barely walk around the block.
I'm going to schedule an appointment soon with an orthopedic specialist to see what my options are. Most likely I'm staring down the barrel of a hip replacement. I went from tolerating the pain last year to it severely impacting my mobility this year. I really can't put it off any longer.
Likewise, two months ago, I did something to my right shoulder, and I have a hard time lifting my arm above my head without a severe amount of pain. It's been like that for a couple of months now, and I suspect I've probably tore some cartilage or something. So, while I'm there talking to the doctor about my hip, I'll be discussing options with my shoulder as well.
Getting old sucks. The things with the shoulder happened as I was reaching for a plate in the cupboard. The last decade or so, It's been rare when I haven't been in a serious amount of pain. Early on I had some pretty severe Sciatica because of how the muscles were displaced along the hip. I've been seeing a chiropractor regularly, and it has made a world of difference when it comes to pain management. While the Sciatica has all but disappeared, as soon as I start doing too much with my leg, the pain returns. And now? I've got my shoulder tacked on top of that as well.
Yes, I know that hip replacements are fairly commonplace these days and that they have you up and around in no time whatsoever. I've been through several surgeries in the past. Sometimes they go off without a hitch, sometimes they don't.
Which brings me back to my appearance at events next year. I'll probably be putting any surgery off until June of 2025 so that my wife can shuttle me around without it interfering with work. Summer is prime convention time.
Plus, I have no idea about how far out I have to schedule this surgery. So, it very well may be that there might be a couple of months that I have to sit things out.
I've already signed up for an event at Midland in 2025. After that, everything is in limbo.
So, that's what's going on.
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