'That feeling when knee surgery is tomorrow': What does the viral meme mean

The "That feeling when knee surgery is tomorrow" meme, also known as the Blue Grinch meme, expresses a specific emotional state associated with a pending knee surgery.
The meme which gained widespread popularity, traces its origins to an earlier version featuring a squirrel image.
What does the meme mean
The meme finds humor in a highly specific and relatable situation, creating an instant connection for those who have experienced the anxiety of an upcoming medical procedure, specifically knee surgery.

The inclusion of the "Blue Grinch" character amplifies the sense of nervousness and lack of energy surrounding the experience.
What makes the joke intriguing
The humor lies in its highly specific focus, serving as both a commentary on traditional meme conventions and a departure from them, the Daily Dot reported.
The meme focuses on such specific and nuanced situations that its precision itself becomes the punchline, providing a clever commentary on meme culture that is both humorous and insightful.
While most memes strive for widespread appeal by tapping into universal emotions, the "knee surgery" meme maintains a deliberately narrow scope, which sets it apart.
When did it originate
According to Know Your Meme, the first version of this meme was created in 2021 by an anonymous user on MemeCreator.org. It featured an animated squirrel standing upright with its front paws raised, capturing widespread attention when it appeared on the Instagram account stupid.fricken.meme later that year.

At present, the "Blue Grinch knee surgery" memes remain notably non-political in nature. While it's common for memes that start as neutral to take on political or unexpected directions, this particular format mainly serves as a self-referential commentary on meme culture.
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