The Joys of Aging

Actually there are some joys in aging (just to let any youngsters out there realize the fact). But at times you have to look sort of hard. Those of us who fit the Senior Citizen category can look back at wise choices and not-so-wise choices and know that we have learned from that circumstance and can go on from there with confidence. And of course, you have to have a certain amount of years under your belt to have and enjoy grandchildren (or great-nieces and nephews).

However, dealing with aging bodies that you had thought were relatively fit is an unwelcome surprise. Case in point:  last Monday I was finishing my third set of strength training exercises when I heard a pop and immediately felt an excruciating pain in my calf. These were not new exercises to me and I had warmed up in the same fashion as other times I had done these routines. How could my body sabotage me like that?

Once the pain had subsided enough for me to hobble over to the computer, I googled mid-calf pain and discovered that I had possibly torn a muscle. Well, that sounded really hunky-dory since we had a vacation planned for the next week. After icing and elevating the leg most of the day, I took one of Dean’s anti-inflammatory drugs  and slept great that night

Since then I have been able to walk pretty much pain-free except that I can’t get rid of a limp. Not sure whether I just want attention—don’t think so—or if my brain is telling my body that the correct balance needed to walk freely isn’t quite what it needs to be yet.

My friend told her husband (a high school coach) about my injury and he immediately had a name for the problem—sorry, I don’t have it, but probably couldn’t spell it anyway. He said old athletes often incur this injury and it was nothing particularly serious—I should be back to 100% in about three weeks.

Old athletes, huh? So now I’m an old jock. Who’d a thunk it?