When You Realize in the Last Years of Your 40s That, Well, Spring Chicken You Ain't. But You Try (and It's Sad)

I am playing for Companion Animal Hospital. I ran four miles today, then went to practice, and I realize that sprinting, bending over, diving, leaping, and pretending to be young simply hurts. I think it was two years ago I stepped aside from beach volleyball, too. Henry the hernia, although corrected (allegedly), has invited his lil' brother Hank to the party. 

Walking. Fine. 

Running. Depends on the day.

Being a 15-year old baseball player. Uckfay. I am old.

My biggest fear was not being able to throw or hit. I'm okay with that. It's the agility of bending, stretching, moving quick, and having dexterity that is nipping me in the ass (although that is one part of my body that isn't aching this morning).

Hank was immediately iced at Pam's. She had surgery on her foot, so Francesca needed an ice-patch, too.

Tunga officially has keys to his first apartment in Stratford, so he missed practice to move a couple of items into his new digs. He's excited to get on his own, and I totally get the enthusiasm and energy, albeit this old fart is able to help. Not for now, though. This is his gig. He was up with the last of his things and out of here. It's a severing that needs to happen. Developmental. Still sad.

Truth-telling here. I don't like feeling old. I've always been the sort with boundless energy, and a willingness to sweat, play, and be part of the game. Last night, however, I began to think, "This might not be such a good idea. I hear swimming is not a bad deal for people this age."

Maybe it is the Covid-19 year, sitting at a desk 14 hours a day, and the stillness of a computer life. I just know that I ache everywhere, and I wonder, "Ouch. Have I crossed over to the world of geriatrics?"

Meanwhile, today's EthicalELA #verselove challenge was haikus, and I've been playing with 'epic' haikus for many years now. I simply choose a subject and see how many I can crank out within a flow and narrative. Yesterday morning, I wrote for my colleague Susan, who has been the punching bag of the universe for the last several months. 

Anyways, here's what I wrote. Happy Saturday. Time to grade and plan.