a grateful plenty

The view along the trail at Deer Creek Sanctuary

Once again Thanksgiving is upon us, and I am feeling even more grateful than ever for our local parks and trails. I had knee replacement surgery on September 24. It was successful, but not exactly fun. If you've been through it, you understand. But it has also been amazing.  How quickly the human body can adapt. How it heals itself. It can take months, possibly a year, for a full recovery, but I'm trying to take each day as it comes.  

I was worried I would miss the entirety of autumn and its beauty. But, after the first couple weeks, I was able to start walking outside in the neighborhood, and at just over 3 weeks in,  I switched from a walker to a cane, and was given the go ahead to drive again.  Once that happened, I was able to get out to some of my favorite local parks with easy paved trails, and enjoy the fall color. At that point I was walking about a half-mile. Now I'm up to a mile, and I'm able to walk on some of the dirt trails as well.

Between the walks and PT, I am making good progress. I am exhausted every day, but healing is evident. And I feel so lucky to have these parks and trails available so close to home. I know that I will make good use of them over the coming winter months.  Here are some images from the parks I've been enjoying these past several weeks.  If you haven't been to some of them, I encourage you to opt outside and check them out.  

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

The trail beckons at Euclid Park

EUCLID PARK 

This park is only about 7 minutes from my house, so I'm amazed I haven't been there before.  It's nestled within a residential neighborhood, and was full of fall color.
 
At about 9 acres in size, it features a paved walking trail that surrounds the perimeter of the park, a basketball court, a sport field, a kids play area, and several benches.  The easy paved trail is just about a half-mile in distance per loop.

​I'm looking forward to returning to it throughout the winter months.. 

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ENDICOTT PARK

JACOBUS PARK

ALAN KULWICKI PARK

HIGH GROVE PARK

DEER CREEK SANCTUARY