Progress

~ MaryG

Despite continued pain and swelling, my husband is attempting to get on with his life after two total knee replacements, the second of which took place on March 16.

Gardening is something he always liked and is good at. I’m very pro-gardening for him. I think it’s healthy and without the excessive strain and physical danger of his other hobby: powerlifting. (It’s like, you have two artificial knees dude…would you just not.) But as most people in longterm marriages know, you cannot control the other person. They’re gonna do what they’re gonna do and you gotta decide if the good outweighs the bad. (You’re free to go, if you’re not into it.)

Therefore, I’m happy to report he planted a bunch of dahlia bulbs, trimmed some shrubs, planted my spur-of-the-moment purchase of a lovely lupine in bloom, bought some clones from the dispensary, and potted up two of them as gifts for our kids. This represents a small but significant return to gardening. Yay!

My new lupine, expertly planted by my husband who got his BS in Botany.
We bought 3 types of clones at our local dispensary’s big plant sale: The Hive (Honey Banana X Papaya), Terpgasm (Sin n Juice X Udder Madness), Tail Dragger (Alligator Wine X Pearl Cadillac)

Don’t you just love the names of weed strains 🤣

Q: Why are weed plants called clones?

A: Weed plants are called “clones” because they are literally exact genetic replicas of a parent plant (called a “mother plant”). Instead of using seeds, growers cut a branch off a thriving plant and encourage it to grow its own roots. 

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UPDATE: photos of my husband kneeling for my friends considering arthroplasty

Right knee was replaced November 24, 2025
Left knee was replaced March 16, 2026
He says it feels weird to kneel but doesn’t hurt.

24 thoughts on “Progress”

  2. So that’s a lupine!! I started some indoors last year from seeds and while they grew well they never did produce a flower at all, i was so disappointed ☹️

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    1. Thanks Kari! Fingers crossed that he has actually turned the corner for real. And I know, I can’t believe they made an emoji for lacrosse 🥍 but STILL nothing for weed. 🤣

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  9. Pingback: Lupine purple | 50 Happens

  10. First of all, your flowers are pretty ❤

    Secondly, this reminds me of Michelle O’s podcast. She talked about how Obama was playing basketball and almost hurt himself, and she was saying to him something like, “Please don’t play basketball. You have a very important job, and you can’t get hurt.” Point being…you’re right. You can’t tell your spouse what to do, even if he’s the flippin president, I guess lol

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    1. Thanks Kathy!

      And I’m glad Michelle knows what I mean! I heard Barack say that he’s pretty sure her dresses are going be the main attraction at his new library in Chicago.🤣 Love them both so much!

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