GEEZER B-BALL

Tonight I went to play basketball with some "seniors" (minimum age is 45). I had played with the group a few years ago but had to stop when I had a schedule conflict.

I tried to play sporadically the last couple of years. Usually my feet and joints ached so bad I would just end up trying to shoot baskets.

I have experimented with pills with different compounds that are supposed to help joints and cartilage. I found a brand a few months ago that seems to be giving me pretty good results.

Tonight I got a little concerned as I approached the gym and saw a warning sign. When I saw the "ride" for one of the guys I wondered what I was in for... HA! HA! Click on the geezer and watch him go.

When I entered the gym I recognized some of the guys I had played with a few years ago. I was definitely one of the oldest true geezers in the group.

We played full court for two solid hours with just a water break between games. It was fun but exhausting. My goal was not so much play ball but just keep making it up and down the court.

When I pulled on my sweats before leaving the gym, I could hardly move. As soon as I got home I took two ibuprofen (which I wish I had taken before I played). Then I took a bath in hot water with the jets streaming over my aching body. I dragged myself out of the tub and crawled to my lounge chair.

The real test will be to see what kind of condition I am in tomorrow. Whatever the case, I think the feeling of being able to play tonight will bring me back out again ... and again.

Maybe I could borrow one of those little motorized carts to ride up and down the court!

BABY BOOMED

Kathleen Casey-Kirschling made the news this week when she applied for Social Security benefits. She is generally recognized as the nation’s first baby boomer. She was born on January 1, 1946, at 12:00:01 a.m.

I am toward the head of the class of baby boomers coming into the “golden age.” Of course, for years I have gotten the AARP marketing material. I have never liked those folks knowing how old I am and frequently reminding me of my age with their solicitations. However, I admit getting older does not seem so bad when I get the “old geezer” rate at movie theaters.

But today was a little rough for me. As I walked into the barbershop I noticed a large sign that informed me today was seniors discount day. Dare I inquire how old I must be to pay $5 less? I confess I did not have the heart to even ask how old you had to be. To tell the truth I guess I did not want to be that old. :-(

Then I went to the grocery store. As the clerk scanned my items, she nodded her head toward a sign in front of me. Quickly I glanced down and saw the large yellow sign with black letters: “60 years and older - 5% discount today.” Since the clerk asked me so discretely, I ’fessed up and told her I qualified.

Yet inside my cool was blown. I have read, and agree with the statement, that baby boomers seem to think we look 10 years younger than we are. Here I am just barely qualifying for the grocery discount, but so quickly and easily I am spotted as a candidate. It must have been the haircut that causes my white hairs to show more prominently!

Just now my wife has just walked in the room. Without knowing what I am writing about she says that I look like a teenager with my knit shirt and jeans.

With her comment I guess I will delay my plans. After today’s experiences I was thinking about getting some gold chains to drape around my neck and unbutton my shirt half-way down my chest.

But I think I might still look into buying a red sports car or a motorcycle. Maybe this baby has not boomed out completely. :-)

TURN TURN TURN

I am beginning to feel “a little old.” At Operaton Christmas Child processing center I lead a team of nine young men. The oldest is in his early 30’s. When it comes to sheer physical labor I am forced to acknowledge I cannot keep up with them. I don’t like the feeling.

Today while we were talking about basketball, one of the guys said, “I bet you were good in your day.” Now I feel like an old geezer way over the hill.

Tonight while I sat in a tub of hot water trying to soothe my aching muscles, I remembered the words of Ecclesiastes 3. It gave me some solace ... “everything is beautiful in its time.”

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

To hear Roger McGuinn, founder of The Byrds, sing the song click below:

http://www.ibiblio.org/bitcasting/rmg-300.mpg