We had more excitement than usual today on the Pickleball court. One of our players tripped and fell, the first to do so in a long time, which is a minor miracle considering the majority of us are in our 70s.
This game is supposed to be less physically demanding than chasing a tennis ball around, and yet there’s still ground to cover and balls to reach for. Like life, it seems the less skilled you are, the harder you work.After some persuading – “No, I’ll be fine”- I drove her home, an icepack already strapped to her wrist (sprained? broken?) and delivered her to her husband, who we’ve since learned took her to the Urgent Care people. Her concern was that she’d scared everyone and disrupted the day.
This brought to mind something I’ve noticed before. Many of us are eager to share bunion or bad knee issues, but those with something serious rarely discuss it. I have two friends, one in Florida and one in Massachusetts, with the same life-changing affliction. Both have Rheumatoid arthritis, which includes painful joints and muscles, fatigue and weakness, and yet you would never guess it. They both stay active, each walking several miles a day and yet once a week must inject expensive medication into themselves so they can keep going.
And really. Do we honestly think other people are interested in hearing again about that hitch in our get-along? The next time the arch on my foot (where I dropped a TV camera tripod years ago) flairs up, or my back is a bit stiff in the morning, I’m going to keep my big mouth shut.
I hear you. I am bored with my ailments and suspect that others are too. So I try (with variable success) to shut up about them. That said, the flip side can be dangerous. My partner is reluctant to talk about his woes. And I have in the past had to call an ambulance just because of his reluctance to speak up.
ReplyDeleteI agree. That’s a different scenario entirely.
DeleteYears ago I heard a wise lady, the age I am now, comment that she always replies Fine! if asked how she is, because who wants to hear the details of not fine? Once in a long while maybe.
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right. It's no fun to listen to the same stories over and over, but it sort of comes with the territory of old age. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, some people talk forever about little things. We get tired of hearing them. And then some people just tough it out. They have serious problems but keep going.
ReplyDeleteI keep quiet about my back stiffness and aches too. Why bother those around me when I can still cope? I just move a little slower and rest more instead.
ReplyDeleteLove the Calvin cartoon.
Calvin is right -- that IS a difficult balance! Illness is all relative. What seems very achey to us in isolation might seem like nothing compared to the experiences of others.
ReplyDeleteI think we can learn to mention things but not dwell on them. It might do us some good, but it won’t be good for others to have us drone on and on.
ReplyDeleteBut it’s always so tempting since our favorite topic is ourselves! :0)
DeleteI still have a pain in my hand where our foster dog bumped with her head. It must have fractured a bone. I will let it go....
ReplyDelete