Recently, I was hit with a rather rude realization. I have discovered that I am not as young as I used to be. That may not seem like some great revelation to some people, but for me it was a somewhat painful epiphany. It hit me as I was finishing coverage of the spring high school football game a couple of weeks ago. I enjoyed seeing the kids and watching the game, but the trek back to my car afterward made me realize that, if things were left the way they were, I simply would be incapable of working home football games as I have been able to do for the past years.
Many of you remember that a couple of years ago, I had a rather unfortunate collision with a pair of much younger and much healthier players on the sideline of a play-off game in Aucilla. A pair of surgeries and several weeks in a cast left my ankle in prime position to be ravaged by arthritis. Since that time, I have found myself wearing a brace on a daily basis, with few prospects of significant improvement.
Now, I have no intention for this to be some kind of “poor, poor me pity party.” Everyday, I wake up and immediately consider it to be a good day. I do anticipate better days ahead. I am scheduled to have another surgery on my left ankle in the coming days that should improve my mobility issues significantly. I have been told by the surgeon that the surgery will straighten my crooked left foot/ankle, will alleviate the daily pain I experience and will allow me to do away with the brace I have been wearing. When I heard that, it was all I needed to hear. I immediately told the doctor, “let's do it.”
I know the next weeks will have its difficulties. I will be in a cast for several weeks, followed by time spent in a walking boot and physical therapy. I do have every intention of being back on the sidelines, if not in time for the beginning of the season, at least shortly after. I have learned to keep a healthy distance between myself and any “action” that may spill over into the sidelines.
Considering the fact that I plan to live to the age of 105, I am far from ready to stop covering football games. I enjoy the kids far too much. As I have said, “I may not be as young as I used to be; but I'm not as old as I'm gonna be.” I have too many days yet to see, here on the “sunny side.”