Iceberg

Our daughter-in-law sent us a funny meme about being over 60. The doctor told the man to put ice where it hurts. The man looked like a human iceberg, because it hurts all over. She asked us if that was true. Well, sometimes!

I will admit that lately I’ve had an ongoing affair with the ice pack. It started with tennis elbow, which is weird because I don’t play tennis, but I’m sure it was something ridiculously unremarkable that makes it unmemorable. I do remember that it was made worse by the nurse taking my blood pressure during my physical two months ago. The cuff, mimicking a python, clamping down on my elbow in a vise-like grip. Now isn’t that ironic? My back was feeling left out of the pity party, so it has now joined in. It feels as though I am being stabbed with a hot knife between the shoulder blades. Okay, I think that happened when I tried to pick up my 50 pound grandson. Both elbow and back were screaming as if the latest, greatest rock star had just entered the room! And that’s how it all started….this time.

The truth is, if you do it right, going all out through life, you end up with a few bumps, bruises, a torn this, and a sprained that. Some of us even have to replace some parts along the way, but what that all means is that we’re doing it! We’re living!

I do draw a line at breaking bones, or getting a concussion. That’s carrying it too far. I’m not a football player, so I have not experienced an “ice bath”. That’s crazy, but as you grow closer to 60 you might advance from having one ice pack in the freezer to two, or three. Four might really be ideal, especially if you’re married. And some BioFreeze in the bathroom cabinet should really be a staple.

You’ve got to be tough to get older. Society has a name for us that I don’t find flattering. “Senior Citizen”. I prefer “Life Veteran”.  I’m not a fan of the aches and pains that are a little harder to recover from than when I was 20 or 30. I just want to make sure I’ve earned them. I want them to come from riding my bike, swimming, kayaking, dancing, walking (because hiking is really too big of a word for flat Florida), and picking up grandkids, not sitting around growing “old”. I’m not old. I’m older, and I hope to always be that way.

Yes, I’ve earned my relationship with the ice pack, even if sometimes I don’t quite remember how. Perhaps I play tennis in my sleep. I’m sure I’m a champion!