With my 75th birthday arriving tomorrow, my attention turns to yesteryear, back when I could physically do a lot of things that are beyond me at this point.
My memory was jogged by a screensaver that recently popped up on my computer. The photo is of the sea level arch at the tip of Baja California.
Many years ago, Charlie and I were staying at Cabo San Lucas and decided to rent kayaks to paddle out to the arch. Easier said than done. It’s got to be a half-mile from the beach against the incoming waves. It was strenuous, to be sure, probably something that I could not do anymore, particularly with my torn rotator cuff condition.
Some old neighbors from California called me yesterday to see how I was doing. Phil and Jo Berg are old golfing and bowling friends from Bear Creek; they’re both in their 80’s now. They asked how my arthritic hands were doing, recalling that I quit bowling due to the excruciating pain in the same year that I rolled my last 300 game. I told them that bowling is but a fond memory… except for those last games where I could barely hold the ball. Phil and Jo still bowl in that league; kudos to them at their age.
I don’t know what physical activity I will be able to do in my 80’s, but I am inspired by an old friend of mine from the bowling league who participated into his 90’s! Bob’s ball was super-slow rolling down the lane and barely knocked over the pins, but he had fun bowling and everyone in the league cheered him on. I didn’t know much about Bob at the time, except that he had been a Marine pilot who provided close air support for his buddies at Iwo Jima. At his celebration of life at our country club, a color guard provided by the White House lent a lot of class to the festivities.
I golfed for many years, back in Riverside and later at Bear Creek Country Club, where we lived for thirty years. Just after I retired (in 2003), I was appointed to the Board of Directors of BCCC. It was not a pleasant stint. I got pissed at some close-minded Board members and quit the Board and the Club. I was through with golf, I thought, and gave my clubs to one of my sons. To fill the void, I took up “cowboying” with some buddies and my horse “Louie”. For about five years we did trail rides, competed in arena events, sorted and cut cattle, and otherwise had a great time. My biggest accomplishment was winning five of seven events at a minor rodeo. However, it was during one of those cattle cutting arena events that I hurt my right shoulder and eventually had to give up the equestrian life.
I hardly golf anymore, but I remember how to do it and can stilI hit a few shots. I quit the game and gave away my clubs at the same time that I quit bowling… too much arthritic pain in my thumb joints to hold the club properly. When I moved here to Mesquite, where there is a lot of golfing opportunities, I resumed playing with a modified grip which took the pressure off those aching joints. I also only play a few times a year and don’t practice much, giving my thumb joints a chance to relax. Back in the day, at Bear Creek, I played maybe three or four rounds per week and practiced on the other days, enabling me to have a single-digit handicap. Now, I am lucky to shoot in the high 80’s from the “old man’s” tees.
Back in my mid-50’s it was important to be able to compete in team golf and with my country club buddies. We had a money game on Saturday that was the highlight of my week. When I occasionally play a round with my son Jonathan, he kicks my ass quite easily. I don’t give a crap anymore. I’m just happy to be able to swing a club and enjoy a nice day with friends.
I still hike with some close friends and, occasionally, with the local hiking club. Thanks to my new artificial hips, I can easily do 5 to 10 miles off-trail in the local deserts and mountains. The only problem that I have is adhesions in my thigh muscles from the two surgeries. Every once in a while, I will put weight on a leg (usually my right one) and I will get a sharp pain that almost collapses my leg. That sucks, particularly if I’m scrambling through some boulders or hopping down into a wash on one of my hikes. I’ve tried to give the muscle additional exercise by walking the three dogs three miles per day (weather permitting). They live for those walks.
I suppose I should be happy being able to do the things I do at my age. I’ve already outlived my Dad, who died at 73. He was a pretty robust guy who did a lot of manual labor (auto mechanic), was a skilled D.I.Y. craftsman, and was a very fine water skier in the Fifties and Sixties. Unfortunately for him, he lived in a time when most food was fried, and he smoked, too. So, he had some heart issues and died almost exactly fifteen years after his triple-bypass surgery. My Mom lived to be 88 years old and would probably still be kicking if she hadn’t broken both hips toward the end.
I think I’m good on my hips, as they are made of titanium, I think.
Who knows how long this show will go? I have gradually scaled back my physical activity to the point that the dog walks, an occasional hike in the desert with friends, and doing landscaping improvements around the property are the extent of my normal exercise.
Oh, I almost forgot blogging, which is great exercise for my fingers and what’s left of my brain cells. I hope to be able to do this for the foreseeable future.
When I was young, I thought that anyone who was older than 40 was ancient. Now, pretty much everyone who I know is over 50, my sister Claudia is in her late 60’s, my sister Kellie is around 70, and my brother is going on 77. I’ve got grandkids who are in their late 20’s, for God’s sake.
I enjoy living here in Sun City-Mesquite, where most residents are my age. There are very few young people around here, which means fewer speeding and noisy cars and practically zero crime. The pace of life is geared down and casual. Our three Boston Terriers provide all the energy our home needs.
About the only goal I have left is to see Charlie’s and my Golden Anniversary, which will happen in 2024 if the fates allow.
It’s been a good life… thus far.