My wife’s knee collapsed with a pop during my her morning hike on Saturday. Fortunately, a passerby loaned her a phone so she could call home. The kids and I rode the minivan to the rescue, and she’s been on crutches ever since.

This morning, our neighbor checked in with the boys and I as we were shooting baskets.

“Torn meniscus,” I told her. “Or that’s what the doc thinks. She’s getting an MRI today.”

“She’s already doing better,” my oldest son said.

“Will it need surgery?” she asked.

“Maybe,” I answered. “But apparently it’s really common. Lots of people have it. So I guess that’s good.”

“I guess so.”

“It means she probably won’t die,” my son explained.

…

I think we need to set our expectations a bit higher.