As most know, Scott Tinley was one of the most prolific triathletes of all time, competing in and winning hundreds of triathlons all over the globe. Scott has been suffering through hip problems for a number of years and recently decided to have his hip resurfaced on Thursday, December 13th in Wisconsin. Scott is providing an exclusive diary for Competitor so that our readers can follow his journey to recovery.

Today is my sister’s birthday. I don’t know exactly how old she is. I don’t know the number to call her but I remembered the day. Or perhaps it remembered me—the fact taking the lead. It’s a start. We traveled today. Went home on a big ole’ jet airpliner. After the Transportation Safety Agency bent be over the Homeland fence, saving America from Muslims one metal body part at a time, I boarded and felt my four days of intense rehab fall away as each hour passed. My wife, Sherpa Virginia, schlepped heavy bags like a teamster and we landed to Smilin’ Jimmy Black at the curb with a cold holiday ale in the center console and Jackson Browne in the dash. San Diego never felt so Ithacanian, the tired ship of my body so Odysseusian.

I went home and with what energy I had left, poured myself into bed. What a long, strange trip it’d been. I keep thinking that there is something I needed to say, something important that’s been missed and will resurface like The Hand in the movie, Deliverance. But it’s not forthcoming. I suppose it’s like everything else—it just goes on, it just is.

I fell asleep at three in the afternoon. At midnight I awoke and tried to get comfortable. Will I live as long as Cora? Learn a skill as well as Dr. Rogerson? Come to know compassion like Cherry?

I feel bad for Ahab. And I suppose if I was moving in the right direction, I’d feel bad for airport security folks as well. I hope I get old before I die. I hope you do as well.

For more information on Scott Tinley's operation, visit the following links...

www.orthorogerson.com/rogerson.htm
www.surfacehippy.info
www.scotttinley.com