His name will always be in my memory and I hope someone in the USA films and shows his Paralympics run.
Before I was born, my grandfather had a limb excised above the knee. He had crutches but also a crude plastic “wooden leg” that was very uncomfortable. He’d wear the leg in public and on airplanes (glad he didn’t live past 9/11 because of TSA scrutiny) but normally used his crutches.
Don’t get me wrong. He placed a 2X4 above our basement stairs and painted the walls, something our dad wouldn’t even do! Of course he did that in secret so no-one would worry about him. He was a bridge builder, Jacques Cartier in Montreal, so had balance. Mom caught him and freaked out.
While I miss Papa, I know he, as I, will congratulate Oscar Pistorius in his quest for an Olympic medal. Back in the day, I had girlfriends over and we played hide and seek and one saw my grandfather’s leg standing in the corner and screamed.
Now we cheer, as we should. If titanium and science were there when my grandfather lost his leg after WWII that would have been wonderful. If public opinion of veterans and others who have lost limbs had changed my childhood friend wouldn’t have screamed.
My grandfather would have been able to walk better and live a more normal life. Our dog has no hips and back then they only made titanium hips for dogs over 60 pounds and she was a pup at 20#. She had a great surgeon (Dr. Val) but had to grow her own from cartilage and is now looking at her 9th birthday and feeling great but only chases squirrels, mice and the occasional cat.
Thank you, titanium, thank you Oscar for showing people that first of all, you got into the Olympic Games without an advantage, you competed successfully, and will go on to make history.
GEP, my grandfather, would be proud, as am I. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 