Recuperating

I guess it's a good idea for me to remember that I am no longer a teenager, or for that matter, a very young man. I am middle-aged Baby Boomer who on Memorial Day took boomed about 15 feet down a slope on a hiking trail. That was three weeks ago. Today, I am feeling better, although I have some distance to go before I can really say I'm back to whateve my old self was.
Falling down in the presence of others is an unintentional act of humility. It teaches you lessons you'd likely not learn otherwise.

First, you're reminded that anything can happen at any time, at any place, and it doesn't matter who you're around. If you fall and rip the seat out of your pants, it's another likely that whoever's around can go tell whoever might be listening that someone took a tumble, ripped the seat of their pants wide open and wonder of wonders, was wearing sky blue underwear. This is not a good first impression and explanations are unnecessary and pointless. It's just going to make matters that much worse. For the record, I was not wearing sky blue underwear.

Second, you're going to find that one minute you can be in the best of health and strength, the next, you're being helped along the path by a strong shoulder. I had to do the dependency bit and didn't really like it. I like my independence and hate to have to rely on someone to do stuff that I should be able to do, like walk, for instance. Spontaneous things happen, but I'd rather not enjoy this kind of suddenness.

Third, it's a control issue. When you're nursing yourself back to health, it takes time - sometimes, more than less. That's not the way we like it, and I'm no exception. If someone is going to be in the driver's seat, I want it to be me. Healing involves out of conrol issues.

Fourth, it's a reminder that life happens. It happens at work, at home, and on hiking paths.

That having been said, it's just good to feel good again - I've walked the local bike path and streets here in town for about five miles over the last two or three days. I know that joints and egos are mending, one day at a time. Rather than continue here, I think I'll head outside where there's sun, fresh air, and a beautiful summer day on tap.

Want to go hiking?