I have been up and down, and up is definitely better.  The guru of knees doctor appointment lasted 3 hours and 22 minutes and was a test of patience both in waiting as well as 'lightening up' a lack of overt personality.  While I realize the importance of the doctor's knowledge, experience, and expertise...relating to the patient has its own health benefits. I have a May 15th appointment for a new knee, but I have to get my resolve into it a bit more. 
The best part of the three hours?
At the last moment, I decided that maybe I shouldn't drive myself the one hour drive especially since I was having trouble walking.  I called a good friend who not only drove me over to the doctor, but also sincerely voiced that the long wait was not a big deal.  Good friends...priceless.
The other amazing moment of the visit occurred in the very beginning of the 3 hours at the XRay wing. As I was directed to the place to stand for my knees to have their 'Kodak Moment", the friendly technician asked,
"Are you a teacher?"
Of course!  A former student whose name readily jumped to mind!  Better yet?  Her mother was in my third grade class back in 1975. [my first year in that district].
We chatted a bit and I asked her to relay my hello to her mom who had been my son's 'hair coiffer de choice' before he moved away from the area.  Isn't life funny...
I remember sitting with her mom in the nurse's office because she had fallen and hit her head in gym class. Brown hair, big brown eyes, and a smile and personality that lit up a room, she was an active participant who made teaching fun for that year. [There were other priceless cherubs that year, too.]
Then she became a hairdresser, and when I found out where she worked, I brought my son to her for haircuts.
Many years later, her daughter appeared as a transfer in mid- year to my 5th grade class.
And now...her daughter was taking my XRays!!!
I was sent back to XRay for a spine XRay as a prerequisite to the knee replacement, and I asked her to be sure to relay my smiles to her mom.
"Already texted her!  She sends her hellos back to you."
Full circle.
Tada!