You may think this entry is going to be about my dog, and it could be, since she is half German Shepherd.

But no, I am the one with hip dysplasia. When I was born, it was diagnosed by my pediatrician, though nothing was done for it. I am the first child and a girl, and there is a family history of it, so he tested me and could hear the "click". But in those days, there was no treatment. My grandson had it too, but he was treated and is normal now (in the hip, anyway).

The doctor said I'd be lame when I became an old woman.

He may have been right. I've gone many years now with only occasional aching and, very seldom, searing stabs of pain. But a week ago, the pain started in earnest, and I can barely walk. It's constant and it's severe. I keep exercising as much as I can, though, because arthritis can be incapacitating.

I live in a two-story house. I get LOTS of stair exercise.

I'm not telling you this, looking for sympathy. I'm putting this in my journal and sending it out on the pixel express; sometimes it works, getting it out of my head and out of my life.