I'm no stranger to having my feet in stirrups. When I was little I rode horses competitively for years. Besides the once in a while annoying pinch on your inner calf, I'd say all the blue and sometimes red (that's 5th place) ribbons made it totally worth it.

Unfortunately though, my feet have seen too many of the "other" sort of stirrups. The cold, sterile ones at the end of a medical table. I've been having some "womens' health" issues for the last year or so and have had more visits to the gynecologist than anyone should. After every appointment, I breath a sigh of relief and hope for the best, but the worst keeps happening.

Well today, as I was having part of my cervix cauterized, feet in stirrups for 20 minutes, I started thinking about whether or not I could handle having kids. After only a few minutes in the stirrups my knees started to shake and I would have done anything to get that fucking giant speculum out of my vaginal canal. How am I going to feel when I have a head and shoulders making it's way through the same small space for hours on end (or however long it takes)? I realize I'll be somewhat numb, but having your feet up like that is just not natural.

Women are brave. Very brave.

Well, yes, I am breathing my sigh of relief for now.