A few weeks ago, I did something to my soleus muscle and have been instructed to rest it, or at least take it easier than usual. Last week, I had an angiogram and was under instructions not to drive for 24 hours or lift anything over 10 lb.
Since it had snowed overnight, I decided to take public transit rather than ignoring the doctor’s instructions and shovelling out my car or trying to ride my bike. Big mistake, but also a useful reminder.
My first trip was to work, which under normal circumstances would take 30-45 minutes by bus. I had looked up the schedules and left the house at a time that should have gotten me there 20 minutes early. Instead, my first bus was cancelled; I walked almost 2 km so I could catch the connecting bus that would still get me there just in time. It got cancelled, as did the one after that. The third one finally showed up five minutes before I was due to start work. I had been waiting for half an hour. Needless to say, I was late.
The next trip was to dance class. The schedule showed a bus would pass 10 minutes after my shift ended, so I raced to the bus stop without even changing out of my swimsuit. Then I waited. And waited. There are three possible connecting buses that would have gotten me the dance school in plenty of time. I missed all three and ended up walking another 2 km. I was late again, and did the entire class in my street clothes and bathing suit.
The next walk was planned because I know from experience that it is faster to walk than to rely on the buses to get home. Another 1.3 km. By this time I was thinking about Christine’s making space posts and the importance of finding ease. I was not finding ease.
Then to a much-needed massage and home again. Another 1.3 km. By that time, i had accumulated 11.5 km of walking for the day, on top of dance class.. I was tired and grumpy enough that I shovelled out the car, even though I had no plans to use it that night. So much for following instructions!
It was a lot of walking and anxiety, but I am lucky compared to many people who rely on public transit every day.
- I had a phone so could contact my supervisor and my job is not at risk.
- I was physically able to do all that walking and standing in the cold.
- I was late for dance class, not trying to pick up kids from daycare, and being charged $20 or more for every 5 minutes I was late.
