It's no fun being fragile.

[Redstone]

When I was young, it wouldn't matter to me that there was a perfectly good road on the other side of that mountain that went right to the top; I'd say "Hey, let's climb up that cliff on this side!"

When I was young, it didn't matter to me that the airplane I was in was perfectly capable of landing with me still inside it; not as long as that door was open and I had my parachute on.

When I was young, a Sunday-morning phone call would sound like this on my end: "Football? Tackle? Full contact? No equipment? I'm THERE."

When I was young, I was going to be the first son of a bitch off that helicopter, no matter how many times they'd told me "Don't ride the skid."

...And SO many more instances of utter idiocy; but damn, they were fun. (Except the one right above.)

And now I'm not young anymore, and I've lost an ENTIRE WEEK of work, except for a dozen hours or so that I managed to get in by working on the PowerBook in the reclining chair, because my back's been spasming like a freshly-landed trout.

And why? What caused all of this? I got out of bed Monday morning. And stretched. Like 10,000 other times. But this time that crooked vertebra clicked over in the wrong direction, as it does now and again...

Not asking for any sympathy, no. Just giving the young DUers the same advice that I've given my sons: "If you hurt yourself badly enough when you're young, don't bother getting old. It won't be worth the trouble."

Redstone

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Redstone..........

Man, you are so eloquent!

And just a tad bitter, I think........

It is always worth the trouble to get old, sweetie.....

Always.......

I'm sorry you're in a world of hurt right now.........:hug:

[Redstone]

3. No bitterness, m'dear. No fault but my own. And I've been places and

done things. Such places and such things that I frequently remember Rutger Hauer's dying speech to Harrison Ford in the movie "Blade Runner."

Not that I'm dying. But I seen things you couldn't imagine. And am glad to have done so.

No bitterness here, no.

Redstone

[TOhioLiberal]

2. I understand...

...the old quote 'If I knew I was gonna get to be this old, I would have taken better care of myself' seems apropos. :hug: hang in there...

[Redstone]

5. That's a funny quote. I have a birthday card a friend sent me twenty years

ago in my office that says that exact thing. I still chuckle when I look at it.

Redstone

[TOhioLiberal]

7. I hope it made you chuckle this time...

...carefully, of course. I wouldn't want to cause any more pain, ya know.

[Redstone]

16. It did, indeed. Laughter is good medicine, it is.

Redstone

[redwitch]

4. Getting out of bed has ALWAYS been dangerous.

And stretching? What were you thinking????? Hang in there, the back will improve. :hug:

[Redstone]

10. You're absolutely right. I'll stay in bed tomorrow. Especially because

it's supposed to be cold in the morning, and Mrs R is so nice and warm...

Good advice, indeed. I'll take it. And be glad that I did.

Redstone

[redwitch]

12. There ya go!

And perhaps she could massage whatever needs it.... :blush:

[Redstone]

15. Hoo, boy...she DOES find places that make me forget the other places...

Redstone

[bluethruandthru]

6. Getting old is always better than the alternative!

I tell myself that every time I have a birthday. Every time I'm tempted to bitch about my ass sagging or the crows feet I'm starting to develop or the pain of getting out of bed in the morning (bad back - car accident)...I think of my neighbor who died of cancer a few years ago at the age of 37. She had a husband and two little boys. I try to remind myself that she would have been thrilled to turn 40, or have a crows feet, a sore back and even a saggy ass.
Remember...no matter how bad it seems...it could be worse!
That being said...I truly believe in better living through pharmaceuticals! :evilgrin:
I hope you feel better soon! :hug:

[Redstone]

11. It's ABSOLUTLEY better than ther alternative. And I do have a large

bottle of Vikes, which many people who need them do not.

And I have a great wife, good kids, and no boss to tell me what to do each day, nor to tell me what my time and talents are worth.

I know that I have it made, given all the combinations of possible circumstances. I'll TAKE the pain to have all the other stuff that's so good.

Thanks for reminding me of that.

redstone

[greatauntoftriplets]

8. You sound like my sweetie...

who played breakneck football in high school, worked on his grandfather's cattle ranch, and then served in the 82nd Airborne.

These days, he is in pain pretty much all the time...and takes lots of meds for it.

Me? I have a bad shoulder and a bad knee...and I didn't do half of the crap my beloved did. Old age happens.

No sympathy. Just understanding.

[Redstone]

14. Your understanding is well appreciated.

Redstone

[Robb]

9. My uncle had a fine way of looking at it

He said it just gets worse as you get older, then stops getting worse all of a sudden. :D

[Redstone]

13. Excellent. I will remember that, I promise you. And thank you.

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

17. There is a flip side to this, my friend...

which you must always remember...You *can* get out of bed...regardless of the consequences, you have that ability, and that is a gift to be treasured....y'know?

:hug:

[Redstone]

18. Coming from you, yes, I know. I know exactly. I'll make that stop in

Greenfield some day, and I will thank you for this reminder when I do.

You are a treasure.

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

40. Awwww, thank you

I didn't want to come across as being harsh, or as not understanding where you're coming from, but it was just the thought that struck me the moment I read your post. :hug:

And btw, saw my pops last weekend, he's doing really well :)

[SeattleGirl]

19. I can emphathize, Redstone.

Have had back problems for years, though not quite as bad as you. When the sciatica acts up, it's hell. Hope this settles down for you soon.

:hug:

[Redstone]

22. Hey, but at least I was the first son of a bitch off that helicopter.

I did, if nothing else, accomplish that.

Thank you for your kind words. And I do hope that your own sciatica, which is no minor problem, eases up on you.

Redstone

[SeattleGirl]

24. I've flown in a helicopter, but NOT on the skid. Don't think I'd

have had the nerve.

[Redstone]

27. SG, let me tell you this: When they're shooting at you, trust me, you WANT

to get out of that helicopter. Those are fragile machines.

And you'll ride that skid while the gunner with the pintle-mounted M60 deafens you and smacks you on the side of the head with the barrel, a few times...there are times when you just need to GET OUT.

Redstone

[SeattleGirl]

31. On second thought, yeah, I'd ride that skid

The flight I took was definitely NOT in the same situation you were in!

[Dangerously Amused]

20. I think old people with little physical pain

...must have led a life without much adventure. I'll bet they have more regrets and fewer wonderful memories.


I'm with you. I'll take the pain.



Hugs to my hero. (Gentle hugs. Careful with the shoulder.)

[Redstone]

26. DA, you always say it so well. I stand in awe, yet again, of your ability

to not only understand and summarize a subject, but also to warm the heart (and the shoulder) of an old fool.

I'm nobody's hero in my estimation, but if I could be somebody's, I'd want to be yours.

Redstone

[Dangerously Amused]

38. Aw, shucks.

And thanks.


:blush:


Coming from someone whose wisdom and insight is a source of solace in my own life, that means quite a lot.


Oh, and I'm not buying the "old" or the "fool" bits, either. Or maybe I'm just a slightly younger fool. I'll buy it, then.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

21. What? No muscle relaxers?

Those things are freaking AWESOME. I have a friend with back problems from lifting her 450 pound mother around in her late teens/early twenties. She says they're miracles. I hope you get to feeling better! :hi:
Duckie

[Redstone]

28. I have several bottles of metacarbamol that I brought back from

Canada, and they work fairly well in tandem with the Vikes.

But only to a point. Though they're indeed better than nothing.

redstone

[MiniMandaRuth]

23. Great advice.

Except I already did something to screw up my ankle. :banghead:

[crim son]

25. ...

:hug: Not sympathy, just a hug.

[Redstone]

29. Thank you, m'dear. The hug is well appreciated.

How are YOU doing this week? Better than last week, I hope.

Redstone

[crim son]

32. Numb, basically.

And terrified. Otherwise I'm okay. You're a good friend to have around during a meltdown. Thanks!

[Redstone]

33. PM is your friend. Use it as necessary. I'll be here.

Redstone

[WCGreen]

30. I'll see you aching back and raise you two very damaged lungs...

[Redstone]

34. And a rapid return to perspective for me. Thank you. No matter the pain

I have, it ain't cancer, or heart disease, or diabetes, or what you have to live with every day.

I am indeed a fortunate son of a bitch, and I thank you again for the reminder, especially given that the MS monster has stayed in the closet since 1979.

I forgot to count my blessings tonight, and I appreciate your reminder that I should remember to do so instead of whining.

Redstone

[WCGreen]

35. And here I was getting ready to wallow with you....

I have a friend that has the MS and he is keeping it at bay pretty much...

Damn, ain't gettin' old a bitch sometimes...

But then again the alternative is not so good...

[Redstone]

36. I'm one of the luckiest people to have ever been diagnosed with MS:

It's been in remission, pretty much, since 1980...the only leftovers are an inability to balance with my eyes closed, and some shakiness in that right leg, so I always lead with the left going up stairs.

Not a big deal at all. Not until and unless the Monster comes out of the closet.

Not like what you have to live with.

Redstone

[WCGreen]

37. It's not so bad....

I live with my limitations and learned two years ago not to push myself like I did all through the 90's...

I'm just enjoying life now...

[Midlodemocrat]

39. Fragile? You? Not with a mind set like you have, dude.

You are one of the most resilient folks I know. Physicality be damned, (and unfortunately, I know of what I speak), you are strong because you are here and you are involved and you care.

Sorry you are having a hard time, Redstone. :hug:

[LynzM]

41. Hugs, my friend....

I hope that those vertebra un-clicks, pretty soon. Back spasms suck. :hug:

How are you? How're things going at your place, these days? Was thinking about PM'ing you, and then I saw this thread! :)