In 1977, I had my first of three knee surgeries. It seems that the creator made me with a special deficiency in regard to my knees. As a young person, I could run like the wind. Yea verily, I was fast. The Nike swoosh wouldn’t be enough to metaphorically encapsulate the rapid nature of my personal velocity. I was fast.
I was also very wiggly. I could cut and weave like no one. My natural gait was fast and serpentine. I used to play American football and could juke almost anyone. Combined with my speed, I left many behind.
However, that combination and my God given deficiency led to me blowing out both of my knees with meniscus and ACL tears. Needless (ha ha) to say, I got ground to a halt by the knee surgeries. I found myself, literally dropped to my knees, stopped by the need to be repaired.
Several years later (about 30), I find myself confronted with the reality that the knees that I have (especially the right one) are arthritic and telling me the end is near. That end is the demise of my soccer career. The team doctor for RSL has informed me that barring a miracle, ibuprofen and or cortisone are to be my near companions if I play. AND, if things continue like they are, my right knee specifically may have to be replaced!
So, with the thought of losing the potential for running, all I want to do is run. This is entirely funny to me, since I have always been the laziest runner in the world.
Who would have thought it possible?
I may be surrendering to age, but I promise to go down swinging!
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