A kilted "day-date" with my wife

**longhuntr74** · 8th July 11, 08:58 PM

Due to health issues, my wife has had very limited mobility for the past three to five years...with weight issues, a bad hip, and back problems. Some of you may recall that my wife was finally able to find a surgeon who would do a hip replacement on her (at the age of 36) and had that surgery done back in late March. Since that surgery she has become much more mobile and started exercising much more regularly. She has also received some medical assistance with her weight issues and we are both very excited about finally living a new healthy, active lifestyle.

One other change in our lives is that my wife and I have made a commitment to start doing more things as a couple now that our kids are at the age where they can stay at home alone for a few hours at a time. Since my graduate school program only has a four day week, my wife and I have started a weekly tradition of Friday "day-dates." Sometimes we go out to eat or just go shopping. Other days we go to some local tourist attractions and explore them.

Today, we decided that we'd take a drive down the coastal highway (HWY1) and go check out Big Sur. While we left our kids at home (they're on summer break), we did take our four legged "dog-ter" (a word play on daughter) with us. I took a bunch of pics and thought I'd share a few.

First, some pics from some of our stops during the drive.

**Downunder Kilt** · 8th July 11, 09:12 PM

Good one longhuntr74, great scenery and thanks for the pics. Hope you and your wife continue on the new lifestyle choice and all the best. Cheers

**longhuntr74** · 8th July 11, 09:13 PM

Here's some pics from the hike we took at the state park. The trail was very narrow, steep, and rugged in places. I'm VERY PROUD that my wife was able to navigate the trail with very little difficulty. Four months ago, we couldn't have walked 1/4 of a mile on level pavement. We did about 2 miles today. The dog proved herself quite the little trooper too.

The newly mobile Mrs. Longhunter.

Dog decided she needed to explore the clover.

**longhuntr74** · 8th July 11, 09:14 PM

We stopped at the halfway point near a very large, hollow redwood tree and had a snack.

I took the opportunity to have the Mrs. take some kilt shots for me. I apologize for the dark/poor pics. The kilt is a 3.5 yard box pleated kilt that I made of regimental weight Black Watch fabric. The sporran was made by Joe Gondek and has a flap made of the underside of a beaver tail. The garter ties were a very generous gift from our own Jock Scot...thanks again Jock!!!

And, finally, a picture of the "dog-ter" during our ride home...I think we tired her out.

**Dale Seago** · 8th July 11, 09:30 PM

Good for you both!!

Great pics, thanks!! I love the Big Sur area, and have done a bit of kilted hiking down there myself. And a lot of shopping at the Phoenix gift shop at Nepenthe atop the sea-cliffs, and a lot of eating at the restaurant there. . .

If your lass needed the surgery, I'm glad she got it done. I decided to "Borg up"myself due to an arthritic R hip (no discernible reason for that, my other joints are all in great shape) and got the structural upgrade done at the end of February.

Nine weeks after the replacement, here's a 25-second clip of me teaching my martial-arts class: https://www.facebook.com/video/video...=2028229624259 (I've ditched the goatee since then). This was shot just after my 61st birthday.

Getting some of the weight off will certainly help her, especially if any other joints are becoming problematic, and will also reduce the wear rate on the new one. Good on you for being so supportive to her in this!!

**bigdad1** · 8th July 11, 09:33 PM

Great pictures. The very best of luck to your entire family.

**mookien** · 8th July 11, 09:40 PM

What a heartwarming story about your wife's successful surgery and your "day dates". That's wonderful, and congratulations to you both!

That's a great looking kilt (and outfit) and you wear it well. I wish I had the skill and patience to sew a kilt.

Thanks for posting the pics. The redwood tree sequence is particularly "fun". The first picture fooled me about the size of the tree, and log in front of it, until I saw the picture with you in it. What a scale shift! I assumed the tree was much smaller than it really is.

**longhuntr74** · 8th July 11, 09:51 PM

Thanks all for the comments and the kind thoughts. Dale...she was pretty much the same. No problems with her other joints...but her left hip was never formed (born with a birth defect). They discovered the displasia (sp?) rather late and did the best that they could with it at the time. That leg was also 1" shorter...and the surgery helped her get 1/2" back as well...and that is having some benefits in correcting a spine alignment problem/sciatica.

Originally Posted by mookien

The redwood tree sequence is particularly "fun". The first picture fooled me about the size of the tree, and log in front of it, until I saw the picture with you in it. What a scale shift! I assumed the tree was much smaller than it really is.

Yeah...I actually made a comment about that when I posted these pics on Facebook...forgot to post about the deceptive view here. They're BIG trees!

**Highlander31** · 8th July 11, 10:35 PM

Good to see Mrs. longhunter74 is feeling better and enjoying the outing.

Nice photos. Seeing those brings back some nice memories.

As a young man, I spent some time down there. We would go down to Jade Cove three or four times during the summer, and dive for "California Jade". While it's not the same quality as the jade from the Orient, a descent ring or pendant can still be made from it. Of course the spear fishing was always good as well.