“When I’m 54. . .”

If they can play, why can't I? Image source: http://www.signsfunny.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/grannies.jpg

 

 

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.