Since having a total hip replacement seven weeks ago, I've been getting around on a pair of crutches. But I never complained about it.

"What's not to like about it?" I'd say to sympathizers. "Pretty women hold doors for me and old people offer me seats on the bus."

Today I switched to my Nordic hiking poles after my surgeon took one look at my X-rays and declared himself very pleased. With the poles, I can still keep about 25 percent of the weight off my hips or less if I want to exercise the muscles.

But my time as a hobbler has opened my eyes to the kindness of strangers, especially women.

Why women? There are definitely more women than men in the area where I work. But I think it also happens to be a fact that women are more sympathetic and nurturing than men, or at least more willing to act on their sympathy.

The difference became very plain one day when I went for a walk and passed through several doors. I reported to my colleagues that four pretty women and one so-so looking guy had held doors for me.

My female colleagues, by the way, have been rushing to open doors for me, too. They seem to appreciate it when I say, "It's happening again! Another pretty woman is holding a door for me!"

So, as I say farewell to my crutches, I want to say thank you to all who were kind to me. You made these seven weeks fly by.