…but there really should be one.  Over 10 years ago, I bragged about having an open salpingo-oophorectomy (plus an orange-sized tumor removed) and then driving 4 days afterward, then 2 weeks later: running agility and of course, because why not, driving to/from Omaha in competing in lure coursing, and picking up my latest foster dog.  This time, with this surgery, I resigned myself to resting and not overdoing it.  I remember ripping my sutures last time, and did not want to go through that again.  This time, the incision is larger, and the surgery required at least one overnight hospital stay.  This time I’m also older, a decade older, which my Doctor loves to remind me, if only to caution me from doing too much too quickly.  And, this time will be different – I have set aside time to recover and get back on my feet.  Mostly, anyway.  I have a work trip two weeks to the day after surgery, so I am committed to being upright and OK by then.  The reason for this post is I was reminded by the night nurse that I didn’t get a merit badge for walking around the entire hospital floor less than 5 hours after surgery.  No, there wasn’t going to be any reward, tangible or otherwise, for completing my self-imposed milestone.  I did manage to go for a walk, with a walker.  I accomplished getting up, with help, and walking.  It took a long time.  But I did it.  And I only walked half the floor before needing to go back to my room.  It was a small victory, without reward.  Yet, those steps towards my recovery, a few hours after an open hysterectomy, made the difference in getting discharged today.  Onwards and upwards, with a healthy dose of rest in-between.  And, yes I’m still a badass.