Driving home for Christmas

I'm driving home for Christmas
Oh, I can't wait to see those faces

Of course, the taxi is early. The driver discreetly shifts from one leg to another in the foyer of the rehabilitation clinic and is ready to go. Of course, I let myself be pressured and hurriedly put my wallet in my pocket. Did I bring the card? Where is the receipt? My luggage, including crutches, is packed into the trunk and I try to get in without pain. Did I forget anything in the room?

Three weeks earlier

I'm driving home for Christmas, yeah
Well I'm moving down that line
And it's been so long
But I will be there

Of course, the taxi is early. The driver stands outside our window on the street, shifting from one leg to the other. Of course, I let myself be pressured, especially since I'm already restless. It's November 23rd, 5:30 AM, pitch dark and cold. I'm going to St. Josef Hospital in Tempelhof to have my right knee replaced. I'm taking a taxi because I have to be away from home and without visitors for a total of four weeks due to the pandemic, and I'm moving luggage accordingly. Of course, I arrive too early and have to wait four more hours for my procedure. The knee doesn't hurt anymore...

In the afternoon at 3 PM, it's all over and the surgeon asks about my well-being. Oh yes, there are quite a lot of blood stains on his surgical mask. He puts his hand on my shoulder and says, "Now we just need to take an X-ray and then you can go back to your room." A nurse tries to push the X-ray machine towards me, but he stops her. "No, let it be cleaned first." A cleaning staff member rushes over with a bucket and scrubber. He stands in the doorway, looks under the operating table, and says, "Oh shit!" I close my eyes and let myself be pushed to the ward. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.

I spend the next six days and nights with Danilo, a nice window builder from Hönow, the northeastern corner of the city. We have a pleasant time together, which means that we don't get on each other's nerves given the circumstances. In five days, I will literally be put back on my feet so that I can directly switch to follow-up treatment. That works great and I'm looking forward to a change of location to Tegel and a new routine. But first, a cotton swab will be inserted into my nose until it's close to my brain, and I will probably have to spend three days in quarantine in my room.

After a total of ten days, I can see Gudrun in person again for the first time, even if only at the main gate in a kind of prison version, with a fence and three meters between us. It's still nice and I'm looking forward to my new life.

The new life lasts exactly four days and the next test, along with quarantine, is due. There are ten infections in the house. After three days, it will be decided whether my rehabilitation will continue. If not, the therapy will be discontinued. I am welcome to stay, but without exercises and treatments, and isolated in my room. Well, there it was, my personal lockdown, or rather lockout. I packed my things.

Another three weeks earlier

And it's been so long
But I will be there

Of course, it's too late to eat ice cream. Nevertheless, we get the full load (I with whipped cream) and sit in the park in Gropiusstadt at 5 degrees Celsius. Before we left, we brought out the Christmas decorations from the basement. Of course, way too early, but like everyone else, we have to plan differently this year. Or better yet, not plan at all, because the virus is immune to our ideas of Christmas. I will go to the hospital next week and not come home until December 18th with limited mobility. According to the plan, Gudrun will live alone in our Christmas-decorated home for four weeks. We won't be traveling to the countryside this year, and it looks like we'll be alone for the foreseeable future. We feel a bit nostalgic while eating our ice cream, but we're confident that we can handle it. We're a little nervous about the surgery and we're looking forward to each other and our reunion.

Today

Driving in my car
Driving home for Christmas

Yes, we made it. The taxi brought me home safely, not without encountering one of the legendary traffic jams on the ring road. Since then, our home office rehabilitation has been progressing well. We're doing well, even though everything outside our four walls seems to be getting worse before hopefully getting better.

Of course, it's too early to wish all our children and friends a Merry Christmas. But the mail is taking a little longer this year.

Take care! We'll see you at 6 o'clock after the vaccination!