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Straight out of central casting
Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 03:44PM 
The cast is off but there's a boot brace in its place
Back in mid-2001, just weeks before the world changed forever, our Stephanie got married.
In the week or so leading up to the wedding, my mom and Henry were in town to lend moral support.
During that time, we rented the movie that stars Tom Hanks as a Fed Ex executive who gets stranded on an uninhabited island after a plane crash.
You know the one.
I remember a brief discussion with my mother about the movie's title.
Is it Castaway? I asked -- thinking of the term for a person who ends up on a desert island, alone.
Just like Tom Hanks in the movie.
No ... it's Cast Away, my mother informed me.
Not much difference, except that castaway is a noun.
Cast Away (to be cast aside, as onto a deserted island) is what's known as a phrasal verb -- an idiomatic phrase consisting of a verb and another element, usually an adverb or a preposition.
What is she on about now? you may be justified in thinking at this point.
Well, I was mulling that small but important point as I planned our next-to-last party.
(Our last -- as in, latest -- party took place yesterday. I'll tell you about it soon.)
This was the party before that: Dagny's Cast Off party.
Not castoff! That's a noun. But Cast Off -- a phrasal verb meaning, in this case, the cast -- at last! -- came off.
Dagny's special friend Alexis joined us for the celebration
Or was taken off. Not like takeoff (noun) as in a plane, but take off -- as in, take it off! I can't stand it anymore!
And she couldn't. Dagny was so ready for that cast to come off on August 29th, two months and one day after the day she snapped her tibia while swimming in a shallow river in the upstate.
It was a Monday, and she got to leave school early for the doctor appointment.
Later, she FaceTimed us to relate what it was like to have her leg freed from the clunky cast.
Naturally we hoped that she'd be one-hundred-percent normal, just bopping along as though nothing had ever happened.
But that's not how it is.
She was fitted with a special boot brace that she must wear for another month, except when she takes a shower or goes swimming.
And she has been in swimming, a couple of times now, and her leg is getting stronger every day.
But it's still awkward for her to walk. The leg is atrophied and stiff, and she limps, but she does so without too much complaint.
I decided that a small celebration was in order, so on Wednesday, August 31st, before our mid-week service at church, we all met at East Bay Deli for supper.
They have a pretty great salad bar.
I had invited Alexis, who is the daughter of our assistant pastor, to join us. Dagny is devoted to Alexis, who considers Dagny a special little friend.
We ate salad and chatted and had a nice time of reminiscing about Dagny's broken bone ordeal, which is almost over.
TG and I had bought Dagny a giant balloon that looked like red roses. I also got her a small puzzle book called Purrlock Holmes, featuring a feline sleuth.
That's sort of a joke because Dagny is allergic to cats.
I call them Dagnett ... here pictured after church last Sunday night
Alexis brought her a few treats and she got some other things as well.
Now we can put that whole episode behind us, and move into autumn with the cast off.
Who knows what the tide could bring?
And that is all for now.
=0=0=0=
Happy Tuesday
Reader Comments (16)
That is good news and what sweet pictures. You are so thoughtful to turn the day into a party. Is East Bay Deli a chain? It looks very festive. Looking forward to your next party post!
Hooray for the cast coming off! I have had a few knee surgery and for one of them I was in a cast from ankle to hip for the whole summer. When it came off, my leg was stiff and shriveled because I had lost so much muscle from not using it. It took some time for it to get back to normal - but it did. And Dagny, being young and active, will probably recuperate even quicker.
Your little party was a sweet idea and I bet Dagny was thrilled that Alexis came.
Cute, cute pic of Dagny and Rhett!
PS - I'm going to order that book. My girlies would love it!
What a great idea to have the party! She has sure been brave and uncomplaining!
I am so happy she is finally rid of the cast. As far as the celebration for her, I wouldn't expect anything less from you.
You are amazing!!
@Bijoux ... I guess it is a chain but I don't know how limited its locations! I was only vaguely aware of it until a recent Sunday when Dagny was spending the week with her North Carolina cousins and Audrey and TG and I went there for salad bar on a Sunday afternoon. It's decorated with WWII era Americana, and has a huge menu but as I eat low carb, I opted for the all-you-can-eat salad and it was very good. Kids eat free on Wednesdays at the dinner hour! That's why we went on a Wednesday, haaahaha! It was a good time. xoxo
@Mari ... Wow it surely is an ordeal, and the relief when the cast is off must be so sweet. Especially when endured in summertime! I'm sure you're right and that she will get stronger every day. I found the Purrlock Holmes book at Dollar General, in a display rack at the register! xoxo
@Ginny ... She certainly has. We've been proud of her! xoxo
@Lori ... Well you know, any excuse to have a party! But I did want to reward her for bearing up under her ordeal as well as she has. It was a difficult experience but she shone forth! xoxo
I love how you celebrated the "cast off"!!! Those are the special memories made, that our families will remember.
I am putting together a little package for Sam. When we attended his ceremony at Fort Jackson I collected some sand/soil in a small jar. I wrote a note on the jar, Fort Jackson, where it all started. His journey will now take him to Djibouti, Africa and I have a little jar for him to collect some sand/soil.
xx oo
Carla
Hello, my friend!! I'm back from my summer "Jesus leave" (see my post from Sept. 4). I have missed coming to visit you, now I need to get caught up! We have the "Castaway" dvd, it's one of my favorite movies, just haven't watched it in a long time (years lol). How wonderful that Dagney got that cast off ... will be praying all goes well with the boot and her leg gets stronger. Such a great time you all had with the little party for her... those balloons are amazing and so pretty! Sending you big higs and many blessings! Will catch up on more of your posts as I'm able!
So happy to hear that the cast is off and Dagny could enjoy some swimming. I bet she will gain full function of the leg with time. I remember when I broke my ankle it took a bit to walk normally again and I was about Dagny's age when I broke it. So cool with the cast off party! Any place with a salad bar is a winner for me. Is the deli known for any type of specialty sandwich? I just can't believe that Castaway movie is that old! Looking to hear about your last party when you share it.
Betty
@Carla ... WHAT a great idea about the soil! I wish I had thought of that when we went to San Antonio to see Andrew graduate, and I wish he'd gotten some from Enid, OK to have as a keepsake when he went to pilot school! It was just so hot in San Antonio and so windy in Enid that I for one couldn't even think about anything else except getting indoors, haahaa! I'll tell Brittany to get a little sample from Altus, where they are now as he is on the last leg of his training to fly the KC-135 Stratotanker! They're just so anxious to be done and get back to East Tennessee, where they've bought a house. God Bless your Sam as he embarks on his adventures in serving our wonderful country. By the way, when our Audrey went to France after graduating from college in 2005 (my mother took her), she collected some sand from the beach at Normandy, for her dad. That is truly a special thing to do. xoxo
@Diana ... YAY! You're here! Yes, Cast Away was made in 2000! Can you believe? Like a whole lifetime ago! Such a compelling story and so well done. I will hop over and visit you now! xoxo
@Betty ... I don't know about the sandwiches at East Bay Deli because I don't order that, but I'm sure they are delicious! They have the big baked potatoes and hot soup too, probably all fantastic! Yes I think if we are patient, Dagny will walk normally again. It's hard to wait when it's already been so long! xoxo
So happy that Dagny can do water therapy! I'm wondering if the DR will order physical therapy for her when the boot comes off? I've been in PT most of the summer because of a tendon issue in my left ankle. The PT has really helped, and I'm hoping to be back to my normal activity soon. Dagny looks so pretty and VERY happy that the cast is gone! I hope she has a great school year. Sam turned 10 this week - double digits now!
@Barb ... hello friend! How I've missed you! No, I think that because of her age, the doctor has not ordered PT but rather, just be a normal kid and before you know it, she'll have put it all behind her. The X-rays look good and by the end of the year, the entire bone should be knitted back together stronger than ever. I'm sorry to hear that you've had difficulty with a tendon! Such a pesky little thing! But I know you won't let anything keep you down for long. Sam is TEN? How did that happen? Such a sweet little guy. I hope that both he and Dagny have great school years. She is loving third grade! xoxo
Aww I'm so glad Dagney got her cast off! It must have felt wonderful! Nice party for her too! She deserves a celebration! I love those balloons!
@Jeanette ... She's been liberated and she's loving it! xoxo
I'm glad to hear she is cast free! Bless her heart. She has had such a summer!
@Gayla ... She will never forget it; that's for sure! She still limps a little ... not in pain at all but the doctor says she needs to strengthen it by staying active. TG (Papaw) took her to play golf at a par three on Saturday! She's a decent little golfer. xoxo