All Systems Are GO! (Kinda)

I had a Doctor's appointment last Tuesday. For my ankle. The clinic isn't open on Tuesdays.
I was looking forward to this appointment because 3 weeks prior, the doc had told me that I should be walking on that day. At that point I confided in her that I had already been walking...sometimes. She looked at me and didn't say anything for a second. Then, she said "Let pain be your guide". Awesome. I broke down into tears as I realized the implications of that on life itself. Just kidding, I took it as carte blanche to do whatever I wanted with my ankle.
So that was three weeks ago. I've been walking ever since with minimal crutch assistance. I went to my latest appointment on crutches just to be safe.
As I sat in the lobby making small talk with other gimps of varying degrees, who probably really needed their crutches. I felt a little guilty. Before the conversation got too awkward, I was called back to get some x-rays.
When I got back to the x-ray room, I leaned my crutches against the wall and walked about 5' over to the table. The guy freaked out.
"Woah, woah! What're you doing, did the Doctor tell you that was okay?!"
"Uhh". I was too cavalier with my walking! "She told me to let pain be my guide?"
By now I'm laying on the table. He's in disbelief as to how short a time it's been since my surgery, but my answer seemed to put him at ease. Carte. Blanche, baby.
After x-rays I was able to see the doc. She said everything looked really good and she was impressed with how little swelling there was.
Then she told me I could put my crutches down and attempt to walk. So I did. Without hesitation. Without a limp. Whoops.
"Did you bring those crutches in for show? So that you wouldn't get in trouble?"
"Yes. Yes I did."
"Well, I can't get you in trouble, because everything looks great!"
I was so relieved. In the back of my mind, I was worried I had pushed it a bit too much and maybe one of the screws had backed out or the plate had shifted. But all was in it's place. Awesome.
I walked out of the Doctor's office, carrying my crutches, right past all those poor suckers in the lobby.
Up next? Physical therapy.