The Recovery Chronicles, Domestic Chaos, and a Surprise Rallying Cry

Friday was a big day in the Spicer household, because Emily went in for ACL surgery. Since then, life’s been a mix of gratitude, painkillers, chauffeuring, and trying to stop her from cooking on one leg.

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who’s reached out, offered rides, or checked in. Your kindness has meant the world. Emily’s recovery is going as well as it can when you’re dealing with that level of pain and restlessness. She’s already been moving around quite a bit (and by “quite a bit,” I mean I occasionally need to remind her that vacuuming is not part of her prescribed physiotherapy).

She’s tough, determined, and relentlessly positive; all the things I’m trying to be while juggling work, kids, laundry, and the existential dread of a freelance writer’s inbox. I like to think she’s doing great because she has such amazing support at home, but realistically, it has far more to do with her own grit than her scattered, neurodivergent husband trying to remember where he left the ice pack.

The Blue Jays making it to the World Series for the first time in 32 years has been an unexpected psychological boost in the middle of all this chaos. For a few nights at least, we’ve had something to rally around besides leg pillows and cryo pads.

As for me, I’m doing my best as a circus monkey. I’m a little behind on work(the delayed Substack is evidence enough), but I’m doing my best to balance care duties, chores, and looming deadlines. The progress may be slow, but it’s progress all the same.

Life right now feels like a mix of exhaustion, gratitude, and cautious optimism, which, honestly, isn’t a bad place to be. Emily’s recovering, the Blue Jays are alive, and I’m still typing. That counts as a win.