Soccer 2018

Since two of our children were in middle school, we have enjoyed watching soccer.  
We followed Rob and Mary as they played travel soccer and then high school soccer.  
We loved watching them, often watching two or three games a week. We realize
some of those years were just the best.

Now we have two grandsons playing varsity soccer for Raleigh Charter High School,
both start and both are playing very well.  Ben is a defensive midfielder and Jack is usually in scoring position, scoring half of Raleigh Charter’s goals after three games.  Ben,
captain of the team, distributes the ball, and we love it when he passes to Jack racing toward the goal.

On Sunday morning Jack and I got up at 5:30 a.m., leaving Jennifer’s house
(we’re house sitting) at 6:00 to travel to Wilson, North Carolina for a club soccer
game.  I tried to complain to Aloma that this trip was a hardship, but she saw through me.
I loved traveling to the game and watching Jack play. And I loved taking him to a
Cracker Barrel for breakfast after the game.

Aloma and I feel fortunate that we have the opportunity to watch soccer again, this time
with our grandsons.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Recovery Update

After my accident in January, I slowly recovered during the months of March and April.  Then I got cocky, walked too far, did too much in the gym and started golf (par 3 course) too soon.  Major setback. 

When we went to the mountains in mid-July, I was a mess.  My shoulders hurt, my left elbow would go into spasm and my right bicep was extremely painful, even when I lifted something as small as a can of soup.  I was discouraged.

Then I got to thinking.  Were my difficulties the result of the accident or were they normal for a person 80 years old?  How was I to know?  This is the first time I’ve been 80.

On the drive to Cashiers, North Carolina, I had to grab my shirt with my right hand, as if that arm were in a sling, to avoid excruciating pain.  When we got to our condo, getting up and down from the chairs and sofas was almost impossible.  I didn’t want to be there.  Then two things happened.

When I was unloading the cooler from the car, I felt something that felt like a tear in my bicep.  I thought I was a goner, but the next day I was better.  My bicep didn’t hurt much at all.  Then I started antibiotics for an intestinal infection, probably caused by my three-week stay in the hospital and rehab in January.  Within two to three days, I started feeling better overall.  When we returned from the mountains, I was a new person.

Now, I’m playing golf again and scoring as well as last year (still on a par 3 course); I’m walking 1 ½ miles three times a week and working out in the gym, although I’m being cautious with upper-body exercises.  I have energy again and am getting projects done around the house.  I haven't started working on my book, but I’m doing some planning.

If this is what it’s like to be 80 years, I’m in.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com