That old Beatles’ song jumped to mind right now. I will be 54 this year. Youch! Trouble is, I don’t feel like I’m going to be that old, except. . .
. . . when I do things like play basketball against a bunch of Grade 9 students.
Many, many moons ago I played basketball. That would be about 40 moons, for those who want to figure it out. Since then, my hand has not dribbled a ball, these knees and ankles have not locked or pivoted. Yesterday, I took part in our pep-rally to finish the basketball season.
What was I thinking? Apparently, I wasn’t.
But, I did have fun. However, it is a very humbling experience to find yourself out on a court with a bunch of young, athletic girls running like the wind around you, and you, able only — and that, barely — to manage a minute and a half of charging aimlessly up and down the court.
My first shift I thought I was going to pass out. I headed unsteadily to the bench not even able to croak out “sub!” My frantic waving did the trick, though. And there I sat huffing and puffing, sucking in huge lungsful of air all the while wondering if I could manage to stay on the bench.
Something that would have shamed my much younger self from 40 years ago. Then, I would have wanted to be on the court for the whole game. Would have been angry to have been taken off. Yesterday, though, I was begging not be put back on.
I did manage to do three shifts in a fifteen minute game. Never mind all that laughing! It was the longest 15 minutes of this old girl’s life in a long, long time. I wiped out once, but got back on my feet in what I hope was a graceful way. I think I clothes-lined one of the opposing players across the throat in my zeal to block her path; I know I stepped on someone’s foot, and I’m damn sure I was guilty of numerous minor fouls.
Thank God the refs were blind. We staff gave it our best, but in the end youth beat us — but only by one or two points.
I had so much fun playing that game yesterday, and despite my sore back and bruised hip I’m thinking it would be fun to ‘get back in the game’ on a regular basis. By regular, I mean once a week. If we could get a team of women together for a weekly, friendly game I think I would really enjoy it.
Just, please, coach, don’t put me in too much.
All That Matters 
