I have a confession to make.
No, not the naughty kind. This confession has to do with getting old. I have written about growing old before but this is different. This is about expectations not met.
I thought growing old would be okay. Sure my body would be “lightly padded” and gently overworked. But people would call me “spry” and remark on how much energy I had.
Confession: I was wrong.
That’s big for me. “Wrong” is not a word I utter very often in the same sentence with “I”.
It seems that being the spry old lady who is a ball of energy is not in the cards for me. I have chronic pain.
Oh, I’m still active. I still ride my horse, do yoga and Qi Gong and garden but every activity comes with a price these days. Pain.
The real downside is I know that all of my aches and pains are the result of self-inflicted injuries I incurred in my youth and middle years:
- A knee that blew playing tennis just a bit too hard.
- The wrist I ripped the tendon off while lifting a very large piece of furniture (a granite-topped Hoosier cabinet) against my husband’s wishes.
- The foot I accidentally rolled over with a cabinet filled with dinner plates.
- The concussions (5 to date) I have had from everything from a roller skating accident to being thrown from my horse.
- The separated shoulder from hitting the racquet ball wall a bit too hard.
- The broken ribs (6) from riding, horse-play and just plain clumsiness.
- The sprained ankles (4 times) from tripping over a dog, running to tell a news crew to get going and cover the earthquake (a whole nother story) and falling down steps and up a hill.
Those are just a few of the ways I have insulted various body parts over my 60+ years. What’s funny is that I had my shoulder operated on in February and right now, it’s the best joint in my body.
Still, I will get up every morning – albeit a little slower – and put one step in front of the other all day long, despite the pain. Why?
Because I am still here, still able to get up, still able to gripe about pain while some of the people I love the best are not. And I am lucky enough to still be taking this ride we call life with the man I married 28 years ago…
Write On Target 
Pat, I love this post! As my 57th birthday approaches, I’ve been thinking along these lines too. You put it so well, & your injury-causing situations are intriguing! Stories for another day, perhaps?
My knees ache from too many games where I used them to “catch” softballs, dieting is a daily battle, but I still wake up & try to make each day the best!
I shared on Facebook, I really enjoy your blog! Keep sharing please!
Thanks so much for your kind words. It’s amazing how much damage we do to ourselves! As to the other injuries, my Dad used to say there was only one way for me to move – fast and straight ahead. He forgot to tell me to look out for the obstacles….Thanks for the Facebook share, too.
Keep going, girl! The fact that we can only do some (or few) of the things we used to and without pain is insignificant in comparison with the worst luck some of our contemporaries suffer. Just think, is there really any alternative than to keep going?
Thanks for sharing and good luck!
I totally agree…at least I’m still here to whine about it! Thanks Tony